Displaying publications 81 - 100 of 211 in total

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  1. Haider N, Yavlinsky A, Simons D, Osman AY, Ntoumi F, Zumla A, et al.
    Epidemiol Infect, 2020 02 26;148:e41.
    PMID: 32100667 DOI: 10.1017/S0950268820000424
    Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV [SARS-COV-2]) was detected in humans during the last week of December 2019 at Wuhan city in China, and caused 24 554 cases in 27 countries and territories as of 5 February 2020. The objective of this study was to estimate the risk of transmission of 2019-nCoV through human passenger air flight from four major cities of China (Wuhan, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou) to the passengers' destination countries. We extracted the weekly simulated passengers' end destination data for the period of 1-31 January 2020 from FLIRT, an online air travel dataset that uses information from 800 airlines to show the direct flight and passengers' end destination. We estimated a risk index of 2019-nCoV transmission based on the number of travellers to destination countries, weighted by the number of confirmed cases of the departed city reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). We ranked each country based on the risk index in four quantiles (4th quantile being the highest risk and 1st quantile being the lowest risk). During the period, 388 287 passengers were destined for 1297 airports in 168 countries or territories across the world. The risk index of 2019-nCoV among the countries had a very high correlation with the WHO-reported confirmed cases (0.97). According to our risk score classification, of the countries that reported at least one Coronavirus-infected pneumonia (COVID-19) case as of 5 February 2020, 24 countries were in the 4th quantile of the risk index, two in the 3rd quantile, one in the 2nd quantile and none in the 1st quantile. Outside China, countries with a higher risk of 2019-nCoV transmission are Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Canada and the USA, all of which reported at least one case. In pan-Europe, UK, France, Russia, Germany and Italy; in North America, USA and Canada; in Oceania, Australia had high risk, all of them reported at least one case. In Africa and South America, the risk of transmission is very low with Ethiopia, South Africa, Egypt, Mauritius and Brazil showing a similar risk of transmission compared to the risk of any of the countries where at least one case is detected. The risk of transmission on 31 January 2020 was very high in neighbouring Asian countries, followed by Europe (UK, France, Russia and Germany), Oceania (Australia) and North America (USA and Canada). Increased public health response including early case recognition, isolation of identified case, contract tracing and targeted airport screening, public awareness and vigilance of health workers will help mitigate the force of further spread to naïve countries.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pneumonia, Viral/diagnosis; Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral/transmission*
  2. Anand S
    Med J Malaysia, 2020 05;75(3):309-310.
    PMID: 32467553
    No abstract provided.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pneumonia, Viral
  3. Singh Y, Gupta G, Satija S, Negi P, Chellappan DK, Dua K
    Dermatol Ther, 2020 Jul;33(4):e13501.
    PMID: 32359088 DOI: 10.1111/dth.13501
    Matched MeSH terms: Pneumonia, Viral/drug therapy*; Pneumonia, Viral/metabolism; Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology
  4. Albahri OS, Al-Obaidi JR, Zaidan AA, Albahri AS, Zaidan BB, Salih MM, et al.
    Comput Methods Programs Biomed, 2020 Nov;196:105617.
    PMID: 32593060 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2020.105617
    CONTEXT: People who have recently recovered from the threat of deteriorating coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) have antibodies to the coronavirus circulating in their blood. Thus, the transfusion of these antibodies to deteriorating patients could theoretically help boost their immune system. Biologically, two challenges need to be surmounted to allow convalescent plasma (CP) transfusion to rescue the most severe COVID-19 patients. First, convalescent subjects must meet donor selection plasma criteria and comply with national health requirements and known standard routine procedures. Second, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problems should be considered in the selection of the most suitable CP and the prioritisation of patients with COVID-19.

    OBJECTIVE: This paper presents a rescue framework for the transfusion of the best CP to the most critical patients with COVID-19 on the basis of biological requirements by using machine learning and novel MCDM methods.

    METHOD: The proposed framework is illustrated on the basis of two distinct and consecutive phases (i.e. testing and development). In testing, ABO compatibility is assessed after classifying donors into the four blood types, namely, A, B, AB and O, to indicate the suitability and safety of plasma for administration in order to refine the CP tested list repository. The development phase includes patient and donor sides. In the patient side, prioritisation is performed using a contracted patient decision matrix constructed between 'serological/protein biomarkers and the ratio of the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood to fractional inspired oxygen criteria' and 'patient list based on novel MCDM method known as subjective and objective decision by opinion score method'. Then, the patients with the most urgent need are classified into the four blood types and matched with a tested CP list from the test phase in the donor side. Thereafter, the prioritisation of CP tested list is performed using the contracted CP decision matrix.

    RESULT: An intelligence-integrated concept is proposed to identify the most appropriate CP for corresponding prioritised patients with COVID-19 to help doctors hasten treatments.

    DISCUSSION: The proposed framework implies the benefits of providing effective care and prevention of the extremely rapidly spreading COVID-19 from affecting patients and the medical sector.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pneumonia, Viral/blood; Pneumonia, Viral/immunology*; Pneumonia, Viral/therapy*
  5. Soh TV, Dzawani M, Noorlina N, Nik F, Norazmi A
    Med J Malaysia, 2020 09;75(5):479-484.
    PMID: 32918413
    BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 is a disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients admitted to Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA), Pahang, Malaysia and to identify the clinical and laboratory markers for severe disease, complications and virologic clearance according to clinical staging.

    METHODS: This was a single-centre, retrospective, descriptive study. All COVID-19 patients admitted to HTAA from March 9 to April 15, 2020, were included in the study. Patients were categorised according to clinical staging. Data obtained from the medical report includes baseline characteristics of patients, comorbidities, presenting symptoms, laboratory findings, treatments, complications, and outcomes.

    RESULTS: Of the total of 247 patients hospitalised, the majority consisted at clinical-stage 1 (43%) and stage 2 (39%) disease. Older patients, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic kidney disease were found more common among patients with severe disease. Fever was uncommon and the majority had normal haemoglobin levels, white cell counts, and platelet counts. C-reactive protein (CRP) was found statistically significant to predict pneumonia or hypoxia at a cut-off value of 14mg/L (sensitivity 73.8%, specificity 91.3%) and 50mg/L (sensitivity 100%, specificity 96.4%) respectively. Pneumonia was mostly diagnosed radiologically using chest radiography, especially among clinical stage 3. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was a significant complication, with 31% of clinical stage 3 and above developed AKI and 44% of them requiring haemodialysis. Median virologic clearance time was 15 days from onset of illness, and asymptomatic patients had longer clearance time.

    CONCLUSION: COVID-19 presented with a wide spectrum of clinical patterns. CRP was a valuable predictor of severe disease. In this study risk and severity of acute kidney injury were found to be higher. A longer duration of virologic clearance was observed among the asymptomatic patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pneumonia, Viral/complications*; Pneumonia, Viral/diagnosis*; Pneumonia, Viral/therapy
  6. Lu YQ
    Intern Emerg Med, 2020 Nov;15(8):1553-1554.
    PMID: 32232784 DOI: 10.1007/s11739-020-02321-3
    Matched MeSH terms: Pneumonia, Viral/diagnosis*; Pneumonia, Viral/ethnology; Pneumonia, Viral/transmission
  7. Ng BH, Nuratiqah NA, Faisal AH, Soo CI, Low HJ, Najma K, et al.
    Med J Malaysia, 2020 09;75(5):485-489.
    PMID: 32918414
    BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has the potential to affect the mental health of health care workers (HCWs). It is known that HCWs who serve as front-liners during the COVID-19 pandemic experience stress and have the fear of contracting the infection. Little is known of how being a positive contact affects HCWs.

    OBJECTIVE: We examined the experience of HCWs who were quarantined following a close unprotected contact with a COVID-19 positive colleague and explore the psychological impact especially as the timing of the quarantine coincided with the Eid (annual Muslim festival) celebration in Malaysia.

    METHODS: This was a cross-sectional on-line questionnaire study, involving HCWs exposed to a COVID-19 positive colleague in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, a teaching hospital. Data on demographics, levels of depression, anxiety and stress using a validated depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) questionnaire, aspects of quarantine, wearing of masks, hand hygiene practice and swab experience were collected.

    RESULTS: Twenty-two HCWs participated. Eighteen (81.8%) were between 30-39 years and 17 (77.3%) were women. Majority 19 (86.3%) were Malays. There were twelve (54.5%) medical officers, 5 (22.7%) specialists and 5(22.7%) allied health staff. Eighteen out of 22 (81.8%) felt they were able to do home quarantine adequately. All tested negative with a mean (Standard Deviation) hour of contact of 2.56±2.38 hours. Eighteen reported their biggest concern was infecting their families.

    CONCLUSION: HCWs undergoing contact swabbing and quarantine are vulnerable to depression, anxiety and stress. The ability of the HCW to adequately home quarantine should not be taken for granted. Psychological support should be offered to HCWs who are positive contacts.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control; Pneumonia, Viral/psychology*; Pneumonia, Viral/transmission*
  8. Hasan SS, Capstick T, Ahmed R, Kow CS, Mazhar F, Merchant HA, et al.
    Expert Rev Respir Med, 2020 Nov;14(11):1149-1163.
    PMID: 32734777 DOI: 10.1080/17476348.2020.1804365
    OBJECTIVES: The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to viral pneumonitis is one of the main causes of high mortality in patients with COVID-19 (novel coronavirus disease 2019). We systematically reviewed mortality in COVID-19 patients with ARDS and the potential role of systemic corticosteroids in COVID-19 patients.

    METHODS: Electronic databases and country-specific healthcare databases were searched to identify relevant studies/reports. The quality assessment of individual studies was conducted using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Country-specific proportion of individuals with COVID-19 who developed ARDS and reported death were combined in a random-effect meta-analysis to give a pooled mortality estimate of ARDS.

    RESULTS: The overall pooled mortality estimate among 10,815 ARDS cases in COVID-19 patients was 39% (95% CI: 23-56%). The pooled mortality estimate for China was 69% (95% CI: 67-72%). In Europe, the highest mortality estimate among COVID-19 patients with ARDS was reported in Poland (73%; 95% CI: 58-86%) while Germany had the lowest mortality estimate (13%; 95% CI: 2-29%) among COVID-19 patients with ARDS. The median crude mortality rate of COVID-19 patients with reported corticosteroid use was 28.0% (lower quartile: 13.9%; upper quartile: 53.6%).

    CONCLUSIONS: The high mortality in COVID-19 associated ARDS necessitates a prompt and aggressive treatment strategy which includes corticosteroids. Most of the studies included no information on the dosing regimen of corticosteroid therapy, however, low-dose corticosteroid therapy or pulse corticosteroid therapy appears to have a beneficial role in the management of severely ill COVID-19 patients.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pneumonia, Viral/complications; Pneumonia, Viral/mortality*; Pneumonia, Viral/therapy
  9. Kofi Ayittey F, Dzuvor C, Kormla Ayittey M, Bennita Chiwero N, Habib A
    J Med Virol, 2020 Apr;92(4):403-407.
    PMID: 32017153 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25695
    Matched MeSH terms: Pneumonia, Viral
  10. Salari N, Khazaie H, Hosseinian-Far A, Ghasemi H, Mohammadi M, Shohaimi S, et al.
    Global Health, 2020 09 29;16(1):92.
    PMID: 32993696 DOI: 10.1186/s12992-020-00620-0
    BACKGROUND: In all epidemics, healthcare staff are at the centre of risks and damages caused by pathogens. Today, nurses and physicians are faced with unprecedented work pressures in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in several psychological disorders such as stress, anxiety and sleep disturbances. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of sleep disturbances in hospital nurses and physicians facing the COVID-19 patients.

    METHOD: A systematic review and metanalysis was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA criteria. The PubMed, Scopus, Science direct, Web of science, CINHAL, Medline, and Google Scholar databases were searched with no lower time-limt and until 24 June 2020. The heterogeneity of the studies was measured using I2 test and the publication bias was assessed by the Egger's test at the significance level of 0.05.

    RESULTS: The I2 test was used to evaluate the heterogeneity of the selected studies, based on the results of I2 test, the prevalence of sleep disturbances in nurses and physicians is I2: 97.4% and I2: 97.3% respectively. After following the systematic review processes, 7 cross-sectional studies were selected for meta-analysis. Six studies with the sample size of 3745 nurses were examined in and the prevalence of sleep disturbances was approximated to be 34.8% (95% CI: 24.8-46.4%). The prevalence of sleep disturbances in physicians was also measured in 5 studies with the sample size of 2123 physicians. According to the results, the prevalence of sleep disturbances in physicians caring for the COVID-19 patients was reported to be 41.6% (95% CI: 27.7-57%).

    CONCLUSION: Healthcare workers, as the front line of the fight against COVID-19, are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of this disease than other groups in society. Increasing workplace stress increases sleep disturbances in the medical staff, especially nurses and physicians. In other words, increased stress due to the exposure to COVID-19 increases the prevalence of sleep disturbances in nurses and physicians. Therefore, it is important for health policymakers to provide solutions and interventions to reduce the workplace stress and pressures on medical staff.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pneumonia, Viral/nursing; Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral/therapy*
  11. Yusof MZ, Fadzil NFZ, Kamaruzi NNNA, Ayazi MSS
    PLoS One, 2024;19(8):e0303031.
    PMID: 39190710 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303031
    INTRODUCTION: Since the emergence of COVID-19, the Malaysian government has made wearing a face mask in public mandatory since August 1, 2020, as an effort by the government to control the transmission of COVID-19. However, Malaysians' willingness to wear face masks in public is unknown.

    OBJECTIVE: Thus, this study aimed to evaluate their perception of face mask wearing during COVID-19 and its contributing factors.

    METHODOLOGY: A total of 1024 respondents, aged ≥ 18 years, participated in this online cross-sectional survey from October 2021 to December 2021. The Face Mask Perception Scale (FMPS) was used to measure their perceptions.

    RESULTS: Most of the respondents perceived wearing a face mask as uncomfortable. Our findings also revealed statistically significant differences and a small effect (f2 = 0.04) in which respondents who were concerned about being infected by the virus perceived face mask wearing appearance positively (B = - 0.09 units of log-transformed, 95% CI = - 0.15, - 0.04), whereas married respondents perceived it negatively (B = 0.07 units of log-transformed, 95% CI = 0.03, 0.09). There were no statistically significant differences in other domains of FMPS.

    CONCLUSION: In conclusion, discomfort was a major complaint. Marital status and fear of COVID-19 infection affected their perceptions. The public health implications of these findings highlight the importance of addressing discomfort and societal perceptions, particularly those influenced by factors such as marital status and COVID-19 experience, to promote widespread acceptance and consistent usage of face masks, which is crucial in mitigating the spread of COVID-19.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control; Pneumonia, Viral/psychology
  12. Satija S, Mehta M, Sharma M, Prasher P, Gupta G, Chellappan DK, et al.
    Future Med Chem, 2020 09;12(18):1607-1609.
    PMID: 32589055 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2020-0149
    Matched MeSH terms: Pneumonia, Viral/diagnosis*; Pneumonia, Viral/drug therapy*
  13. Shah AUM, Safri SNA, Thevadas R, Noordin NK, Rahman AA, Sekawi Z, et al.
    Int J Infect Dis, 2020 Aug;97:108-116.
    PMID: 32497808 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.05.093
    BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel pneumonia disease originating in Wuhan, was confirmed by the World Health Organization on January 12, 2020 before becoming an outbreak in all countries.

    OUTBREAK SITUATION: A stringent screening process at all airports in Malaysia was enforced after the first case outside China was reported in Thailand. Up to April 14, 2020, Malaysia had reported two waves of COVID-19 cases, with the first wave ending successfully within less than 2 months. In early March 2020, the second wave occurred, with worrying situations.

    ACTIONS TAKEN: The Government of Malaysia enforced a Movement Control Order starting on March 18, 2020 to break the chain of COVID-19. The media actively spread the hashtag #stayhome. Non-governmental organizations, as well as prison inmates, started to produce personal protective equipment for frontliners. Various organizations hosted fundraising events to provide essentials mainly to hospitals. A provisional hospital was set up and collaborations with healthcare service providers were granted, while additional laboratories were assigned to enhance the capabilities of the Ministry of Health.

    ECONOMIC DOWNTURN: An initial financial stimulus amounting to RM 20.0 billion was released in February 2020, before the highlighted PRIHATIN Package, amounting to RM 250 billion, was announced. The PRIHATIN Package has provided governmental support to society, covering people of various backgrounds from students and families to business owners.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control*
  14. Sam IC, Chong J, Kamarudin R, Jafar FL, Lee LM, Bador MK, et al.
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2020 08 01;114(8):553-555.
    PMID: 32497211 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/traa037
    Matched MeSH terms: Pneumonia, Viral/diagnosis*; Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology*
  15. Rabby MII, Hossain F, Akter F, Rhythm RK, Mahbub T, Huda SN
    Can J Public Health, 2020 10;111(5):660-662.
    PMID: 32876931 DOI: 10.17269/s41997-020-00402-6
    Matched MeSH terms: Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology*; Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control
  16. Kow CS, Hasan SS
    Am J Cardiol, 2020 11 01;134:153-155.
    PMID: 32891399 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2020.08.004
    Matched MeSH terms: Pneumonia, Viral/drug therapy*; Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology
  17. Singh S, Murali Sundram B, Rajendran K, Boon Law K, Aris T, Ibrahim H, et al.
    J Infect Dev Ctries, 2020 09 30;14(9):971-976.
    PMID: 33031083 DOI: 10.3855/jidc.13116
    INTRODUCTION: The novel coronavirus infection has become a global threat affecting almost every country in the world. As a result, it has become important to understand the disease trends in order to mitigate its effects. The aim of this study is firstly to develop a prediction model for daily confirmed COVID-19 cases based on several covariates, and secondly, to select the best prediction model based on a subset of these covariates.

    METHODOLOGY: This study was conducted using daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 collected from the official Ministry of Health, Malaysia (MOH) and John Hopkins University websites. An Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model was fitted to the training data of observed cases from 22 January to 31 March 2020, and subsequently validated using data on cases from 1 April to 17 April 2020. The ARIMA model satisfactorily forecasted the daily confirmed COVID-19 cases from 18 April 2020 to 1 May 2020 (the testing phase).

    RESULTS: The ARIMA (0,1,0) model produced the best fit to the observed data with a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) value of 16.01 and a Bayes Information Criteria (BIC) value of 4.170. The forecasted values showed a downward trend of COVID-19 cases until 1 May 2020. Observed cases during the forecast period were accurately predicted and were placed within the prediction intervals generated by the fitted model.

    CONCLUSIONS: This study finds that ARIMA models with optimally selected covariates are useful tools for monitoring and predicting trends of COVID-19 cases in Malaysia.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pneumonia, Viral/diagnosis; Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology*
  18. Mohd Fauzi MF, Mohd Yusoff H, Muhamad Robat R, Mat Saruan NA, Ismail KI, Mohd Haris AF
    PMID: 33050004 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17197340
    The COVID-19 pandemic potentially increases doctors' work demands and limits their recovery opportunity; this consequently puts them at a high risk of adverse mental health impacts. This study aims to estimate the level of doctors' fatigue, recovery, depression, anxiety, and stress, and exploring their association with work demands and recovery experiences. This was a cross-sectional study among all medical doctors working at all government health facilities in Selangor, Malaysia. Data were collected in May 2020 immediately following the COVID-19 contagion peak in Malaysia by using self-reported questionnaires through an online medium. The total participants were 1050 doctors. The majority of participants were non-resident non-specialist medical officers (55.7%) and work in the hospital setting (76.3%). The highest magnitude of work demands was mental demand (M = 7.54, SD = 1.998) while the lowest magnitude of recovery experiences was detachment (M = 9.22, SD = 5.043). Participants reported a higher acute fatigue level (M = 63.33, SD = 19.025) than chronic fatigue (M = 49.37, SD = 24.473) and intershift recovery (M = 49.97, SD = 19.480). The majority of them had no depression (69.0%), no anxiety (70.3%), and no stress (76.5%). Higher work demands and lower recovery experiences were generally associated with adverse mental health. For instance, emotional demands were positively associated with acute fatigue (adj. b = 2.73), chronic fatigue (adj. b = 3.64), depression (adj. b = 0.57), anxiety (adj. b = 0.47), and stress (adj. b = 0.64), while relaxation experiences were negatively associated with acute fatigue (adj. b = -0.53), chronic fatigue (adj. b = -0.53), depression (adj. b = -0.14), anxiety (adj. b = -0.11), and stress (adj. b = -0.15). However, higher detachment experience was associated with multiple mental health parameters in the opposite of the expected direction such as higher level of chronic fatigue (adj. b = 0.74), depression (adj. b = 0.15), anxiety (adj. b = 0.11), and stress (adj. b = 0.11), and lower level of intershift recovery (adj. b = -0.21). In conclusion, work demands generally worsen, while recovery experiences protect mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic with the caveat of the role of detachment experiences.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral/therapy*
  19. Islam S, Mannan F, Islam T, Rahman S, Liza SS, Chisti MJ, et al.
    J Infect Dev Ctries, 2020 Oct 31;14(10):1098-1105.
    PMID: 33175702 DOI: 10.3855/jidc.13289
    The novel coronavirus has become a global risk because of its massive transmission and high rates of mutation. Efficient clinical management remains a challenge in combatting the severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by this virulent strain. This contagious disease is new to the people of Bangladesh. The country is at high risk of spreading the coronavirus infection particularly because of its high population density. Significant morbidity and mortality have been observed for the quick transmission of this virus since March 8, 2020. The basic objective of this article is to analyze the preparedness of Bangladesh, given its constraints and limitations, to cope with the rapid spread of COVID-19 infection. In doing so, it summarizes the origin of coronavirus, epidemiology, mode of transmission, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of the disease. Although many steps have been taken by the Government and the private sector of Bangladesh to create awareness about measures needed to prevent the deadly infections, many people are unaware of and reluctant to accept the prescribed rules. Inadequacy of diagnostic facilities and limitations of clinical care and health care services were major constraints faced in treating COVID-19 infected people in Bangladesh. Greater compliance by the people in following the suggested measures may help reduce the rapid spread of the disease and overcome the challenges faced by this pandemic.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology*; Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control
  20. Tan Chor Lip H, Huei TJ, Mohamad Y, Alwi RI, Tuan Mat TNA
    Chin J Traumatol, 2020 Aug;23(4):207-210.
    PMID: 32653358 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjtee.2020.05.007
    Malaysia has one of the highest total numbers of COVID-19 infections amongst the Southeast Asian nations, which led to the enforcements of the Malaysian "Movement Control Order" to prohibit disease transmission. The overwhelming increasing amount of infections has led to a major strain on major healthcare services. This leads to shortages in hospital beds, ventilators and critical personnel protective equipment. This article focuses on the critical adaptations from a general surgery department in Malaysia which is part of a Malaysian tertiary hospital that treats COVID-19 cases. The core highlights of these strategies enforced during this pandemic are: (1) surgery ward and clinic decongestions; (2) deferment of elective surgeries; (3) restructuring of medical personnel work force; (4) utilization of online applications for tele-communication; (5) operating room (OR) adjustments and patient screening; and (6) continuing medical education and updating practices in context to COVID-19. These adaptations were important for the continuation of emergency surgery services, preventing transmission of COVID-19 amongst healthcare workers and optimization of medical personnel work force in times of a global pandemic. In addition, an early analysis on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures in Malaysia towards the reduction in total number of elective/emergent/trauma surgeries performed is described in this article.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology*; Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control
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