Anesthesia Management and Perioperative Infection Control in Patients With the Novel Coronavirus

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Anesthesiologists are at high risk of COVID-19 infection during perioperative care and emergency airway management.
• Preventing infection transmission is critical in healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a systematic and integrated approach for assessing infection risk in patients undergoing anesthesia.
• To guide the selection of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

• Development of a protocolized approach using diagnostic criteria from medical history, clinical symptoms, and laboratory tests.
• Categorization of patients into three distinct risk levels.
• Adaptation of the protocol to individual hospital resources.

Main Results:

• Patients are rapidly assigned to a risk category, informing the choice of protective materials and techniques.
• The protocol facilitates a standardized approach to infection risk management.

Conclusions:

• A systematic risk assessment protocol can effectively reduce infection risk for anesthesiologists and prevent cross-contamination.
• Hospitals can adapt this approach to their specific resources, enhancing staff and patient safety through education and containment strategies.