COVID-19 - UPDATE

Respiratory Infections Working group

Epidemiology

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

General information for clinicians

• https://emcrit.org/ibcc/covid19/

A comprehensive overview of clinical, radiological, laboratory findings relatedto COVID-19 as well as management strategies

• https://epidemio.wiv-isp.be/ID/Documents/Covid19/COVID-19_InterimGuidelines_Treatment_ENG.pdf

Belgian clinical guidance for suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 – alsoregularly updated with latest evidence

• https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.17.20037572v1

A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical and prognostic factors of COVID-19 across 30 studies incl 53000 patients

Screeningprotocol - according to local availability

• Integration of Clinical suspicion Radiology (chest X-ray or CT thorax) rRT-PCR SARS-CoV-2

Reported sensitivity 43-70%

• Consider COVID-19 infected and isolate the subject if high clinical suspicion despite negativerRT-PCR

• Bronchoscopy : restrict indications ! Preferably intubated patients Urgent, life-threatening condition Exclude/confirm alternative diagnosis that will alter clinical management

Ethical questions in managing COVID-19

• Ethical Committee of UZ Leuven has issued guidance on ethicalaspects of managing the COVID-19 crisis that will likely beimplemented on national scale

1) Contact your ethical committee for explicit advice

2) https://pers.uzleuven.be/universitaire-ziekenhuizen-hanteren-dezelfde-ethische-richtlijn-voor-medisch-handelen-in-mogelijke-crisistoestand

Guidance on discharge from hospital

• Stable

Afebrile

No oxygen need

Radiological improvement

• Home isolation for 2 weeks

• Medical follow-up after discharge is advised (24-48 hrs)

A multitude of sites to follow for latest updates

Handbook on prevention and treatment, made by Chinese colleagues

https://www.alnap.org/help-library/handbook-of-covid-19-prevention-and-treatment

Link to latest COVID-19 related papers

https://www.covid-journals.nl/artikelen/epidemiologie

Follow the European situation

https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/novel-coronavirus-china

European lung foundation – questions and answers

https://www.europeanlung.org/en/news-and-events/news/covid-19-%E2%80%93-your-questions-answered-by-a-respiratory-expert

WHO’s COVID-19 site – also savailable in French

https://www.who.int/fr/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance