The American journal of emergency medicine
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A significant proportion of children with SARs-CoV-2-related illnesses have been admitted to the Pediatric intensive care unit (ICU), although often for closer monitoring or concerns related to comorbidities or young age. This may have resulted in inappropriate ICU admissions, waste of resources, ICU overcrowding, and stress for young patients and caregivers. The Pediatric Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU) may represent an appropriate setting for the care of children whose monitoring and treatment needs are beyond the resources of a general pediatric ward, but who do not qualify for critical care. However, research on pediatric IMCUs and data on their performance is very limited. ⋯ In our study, the need for pediatric ICU admission was low for both acute COVID-19 patients (0.8%) and MIS-C patients (3.1%) compared to the literature data. The IMCU represented an adequate setting for children with COVID-19-related illness who need a higher level of care, but lack strict indications for ICU admission, thus preventing ICU overcrowding and wasting of economic and logistical resources. Further studies are needed to better assess the impact of an IMCU on hospital costs, ICU activity, and long-term psychological sequelae on children and their families.
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In United States, health care workers have been immersed in the COVID-19 pandemic since February 2020. Since availability of COVID-19 vaccines, there is limited literature investigating the incidence of unknown COVID-19 infections in physicians and Advanced Practitioner Providers (APPs) working in emergency departments (EDs). The primary objective is to determine the incidence unknown COVID-19 infection within a cohort of emergency physicians (EPs) and APPs. ⋯ Unknown previous COVID-19 infection was less then expected in this cohort of EPs/APPs, and no association with individual characteristics, previously infected household member, or children in the home.
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Open globe injury (OGI) is a rare but serious condition that carries with it a high rate of morbidity. ⋯ An understanding of OGI can assist emergency clinicians in diagnosing and managing this sight-threatening traumatic process.