+1-817-968-5551
+61-488-839-671
+44-7480-542904About Expert
Key Topics
Requirement
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in China.
Solution
Introduction
There have been cases of emerging infections in China, and their early detection is highly crucial to the well-being of the Chinese population. Since 2003, many improvements have been seen in the surveillance system of China for handing the endemic infectious diseases. A lot of work has to be done for enhancing the ability to conduct surveillance for various laboratory-confirmed infections in China. Since the outbreak of avian influenza and severe respiratory syndrome (SARS) a lot of global attention has been paid to these outbreaks. It was observed that China should have invested more on in their pathogen-based surveillance since the SARS outbreak in 2003. If the infection and disease detection system are enhanced further, then the prevention of such outbreaks in effecting the health of people can take place. (Rothstein, 2003)
Students can get excellent optometry nursing assignment help from the best and most experienced writers at allassignmenthelp.com. Whether you require medical surgical nursing assignment help or cardiac nursing assignment help. We can provide you with comprehensive academic assistance at the most affordable price.
SARS is an extremely informational illustration of an infectious pathogen that is spreading rapidly in the modern world to various parts of the world due to the extensive traveling habit of modern human beings. On its discovery, SARS’ animal origin recognized the agent to be a zoonotic pathogen. The world has been juxtaposed between the widespread usage of technology that offers extensive traveling to various parts of the world and the continuous challenges coming from the nature that involves a plethora of animal-borne diseases and infections including SARS. The threats from these zoonotic or the animal-borne infections have been increasing tremendously. Further, the widespread cases from pathogens like the H5N1 avian influenza virus (AIV) have further worsened the problems towards the human health. China and the other regions of the Southeast Asia have suffered critically, and there is dire need of disease control and surveillance around the Southeast Asia and all over the world. Some researchers have regarded Southeast Asia as the epicenter of the emerging threatening infectious diseases.
The prime cause of SARS is the coronavirus family; this is the same family of viruses that are responsible for causing the common cold. The small mammals living in China were responsible for the outbreak of SARS in 2003. SARS is an infectious disease which spreads on the coughing and sneezing of the person infected with SARS. The droplets sprayed into the air due to sneezing and coughing are the prime reason for the spread of infection. This virus lives either on the tissues, hands, and other human body surface for around 6 hours owing to these droplets and is present even after these droplets have dried. Most of the cases of SARS encountered were due to spreading of these droplets. However, the hands and other objects are also infected when they come into contact with these droplets. The real possibility of spreading of this infection is the airborne transmission. Many cases of presence of live virus in the stool of people suffering from SARS have been seen, and these live virus were found to be alive for four days. It was also seen that these virus were able to live for various months and even years if the temperature was below freezing. The chances of re-infections were found to be high for SARS. ("SARS | Frequently Asked Questions | CDC", 2016)
The symptoms of SARS included a cough, difficulty in breathing, fever higher than 100.4°F (38.0°C) and other related breathing symptoms. These symptoms occur for around two to ten days after being infected with the virus. The people suffering from active symptoms were found to be contagious. ("SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) - NHS Choices", n.d.)
Current Situation
Current Policies:
The Guangdong Province of China, and the Hong Kong SAR, China were first seen to be infected with an unknown atypical pneumonia disease in 2002. This diseases was termed as the SARS and was considered as the emerging viral infection which created a worldwide panic as the whole world was clueless regarding the prevention awareness and the knowledge of this infection control. Over 800 people died out of the 8400 patients suffering from SARS. Therefore, an international collaboration was initiated as the whole world was facing the unparalleled SARS epidemic for determining the cause and the agent responsible for the unknown infection. Finally, it was found that a kind of coronavirus was responsible for SARS. The scientist from all over the globe regarded it as an emerging infectious diseases.
Extensive researches were done for determining its virology, epidemiology and vaccine development for searching for any treatment or therapeutics for this infectious disease.
Finally WHO termed the disease as SARS and also proposed its diagnostic criteria which included (World Health Organization, 2003):
-
(i) close/physical contact with SARS patient;
-
(ii) high fever and respiratory illness;
-
(iii) less than 10.0 × 109 l−1 leukocyte count
-
(iv) Pneumonia-like infiltrates etc.
Since the outbreak of SARS, various progress have been made by the Chinese scientists or understanding and further awareness of the SARS. Following the outbreak of SARS in China, all the epidemic prevention centers have been transformed to the centers for disease control and prevention. Billions of dollars are invested per year for constructed new healthcare centers and facilities for providing them with latest technology equipment for diagnosing the pathogens. Further the Law on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases has been extended and revised in China for mandating the reports via national Internet-based reporting system that was named as China Information
System for Disease Control and Prevention.
WHO has reported that there is a dire need for providing additional guidance and policies basically on the environmental decontamination of SARS which include the cleaning of healthcare facilities and the buildings that are suspected as a source of transmission of SARS. Thus, the WHO has implemented many policies on eradicating all the environmental factor that are contributing towards SARS. The operational research priorities that are required for building the evidence for any of the environmental reservoir of SARS are listed as mention below
-
Further investigation of the cases that do not have any credible history of exposure
-
Analyzing the role of the environment and its factor in transmitting the SARS for determining the attributable risks that are associated along with the person-to-person transmission versus contact transmission
-
The efficiency of environmental transmission is determined.
The government in China has announced free treatment for people suffering from SARS to encourage the poorer section of the society for seeking care promptly. The Health Assembly in 2003 has approved a resolution on dealing with SARS. The points on these resolutions include:
-
(1) for making a commitment to control SARS and other continuously emerging as well as reemerging infectious diseases, via the political leadership, adequate resources, which further includes international cooperation along with increased multi-sectoral cooperation and public information;
-
(2) For applying the WHO recommended guidelines on the surveillance of all the diseases and infections with inclusion of the case definitions, managing the case along with the international travel;
-
(3) For reporting cases transparently and for providing the requested info to WHO;
-
(4) For enhancing the association along with WHO and other related international as well as regional organizations for supporting epidemiological as well as the laboratory surveillance systems etc.
Current Treatments:
Currently, there are no definite successful protocols specific for the medication that is specific for treating SARS that has been developed. Therefore, CDC has recommended the use of the same medicine that is used for treating serious, community-acquired pneumonia. During the SARS the mechanical ventilation along with the critical care for treating the illness. Further, the CDC has recommended the presence an infectious disease specialist, a critical care specialist, a pulmonary specialist, and/or should direct the medical care team. PCR (or polymerase chain reaction) is a laboratory method that is utilized for detection of the genetic material of an agent of any infectious disease in the specimens from patients. This testing has become an indispensable device for detecting the presence of infectious disease agents. PRC is used for testing the presence of SARS as well.
Although the use of Antiviral agents along with the corticosteroids for treating severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
Ribavirin, antiviral therapy is a widely selected as empirical therapy for SARS due to it broad-spectrum antiviral activity against a plethora of DNA and RNA viruses. It is used along with the corticosteroids and is now the most commonly administered antiviral agent for SARS.
Recommendations for Intervention
Prevention:
The steps for prevention has to be taken from the moment the patients take the advice or doctor. The health care workers should have enough expertise so as to identify the case of SARS from the very beginning of the course of medication. The healthcare facilities must have a handy knowledge of the prevention procedures that have to be carried out during the course of the treatment. They should be knowledgeable enough to protect them as well as the workers working in the healthcare facilities. The control of the infection should be the responsibility of the patient, healthcare facilities and everyone involved. The physical barriers that are present between the patients as well as the reception should be able to cut down any probability of exposure. The patients must be told about the simple methods like use of hand hygiene products, using tissues etc. This can be done by using the flyers and posters to educate the staff and the patients himself.
The lab should be reviewed and monitored carefully for all the infection control practices that are being implemented. One of the stricter precaution to be implemented is to use the aerosol-generating procedures where in the goggles along with the masks have to be fitted properly fitted and worn by the healthcare facilities and the patients.
Clinical Treatment and best practices:
1. Anti-bacterial agents: The anti-bacterial agents have been prescribed routinely for SARS due to their non-specific presenting features, and their capability of rapid laboratory tests can be used to diagnose SARS reliably. Hence for covering against the common respiratory pathogens according to the national as well as local treatment procedures that are used for community-acquired or nosocomial pneumonia.
2. Anti-viral agents: Numerous of antiviral agents were prescribed from the very outset of the epidemic. The use of these antivirals was continued even though there was a lack of evidence regarding their effectiveness. Once the scientist all the world realized the SARS as the etiologic agent, a vigorous approach has been made for the development of an efficacious antiviral agent. One of the most important examples of antivirus agents used for treating SARS is ribavirin. (Yu, 2004) Other anti-virus that is being used extensively include:
(a.) Neuraminidase inhibitor: One of the most important examples of this category is Oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu®, Roche Laboratories Inc., USA) which is used for treating both influenzas A and B viruses. Previously it was used along with other therapies for treating SARS in China. But there were no evidences found regarding its effectiveness.
(b.) Protease inhibitor: Lopinavir-ritonavir co-formulation (Kaletra®, Abbott Laboratories, USA) comes under the category of a protease inhibitor. It has been used along with the combination with ribavirin in healthcare facilities of Hong Kong, hoping that the combination can inhibit the coronaviral proteases, as it blocks the processing of the viral replicate polyprotein. This blockage of polyprotein helps to prevent the replication of the viral RNA.
(c.) Human interferons: The Human Interferons are termed as the family of cytokines which is very critical in the cellular immune response. They are differentiated into two categories which includes type I having the interferon α and β, which share the components of the same receptor and type II that includes interferon γ which binds to a separate receptor system. These two types have different antiviral potentials and different immunomodulatory activities. In China, only interferon α has been used extensively treating SARS.
(d.) Human immunoglobulins: The hospital facilities of China and Hong Kong used the Human gamma immunoglobulins. SARS patients whose condition was deteriorating despite their ongoing treatment were treated particularly with an IgM-enriched immunoglobulin product (Pentaglobin®, Biotest Pharma GmbH, Germany).
(e.) Alternative medicine: A traditional herbal medicine has been regularly used in combination with the Western medicine for treating SARS in China. This therapy was thought to be effective. Glycyrrhizin, an active component that is derived from the liquorice roots has been tested against SARS in vitro.
3. Immunomodulatory therapy: The immunomodulatory therapy is used for treating SARS by acute infections that can easily stimulate the release of proinflammatory cytokines. The case of cytokine dysregulation has been seen in the treatment of SARS.
(a.) Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids are regarded as the mainstay of the immunomodulatory therapy used for SARS. Many Chinese and Hong Kong hospitals have stated that early stages detection and treatment with corticosteroids showed great improvement in terms of dropping of fever and better oxygenation. However, there has been various controversies in terms of their effectiveness, adverse effect based on the immunosuppression and its adverse impact on final patient outcomes.
4. Assisted ventilation
Although various treatments have been devised for SARS but in some cases, it was observed that the SARS patients had developed acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. According to various literature it was observed that around 20-30 percent of patients with SARS got directly into the intensive care unit while around 15-20 percent needed the intubation along with the mechanical ventilation. (Christian Hoffmann, n.d.)
Public Health Impact
During the 2003 epidemic, around 8098 cases were reported globally where the overall case-fatality ratio was updated around to be 9.6%. In China only, around 5327 cases were reported but the reported case-fatality ratio was found to be around 7% only. The country with second most reported cases of 1755 was Hong Kong with 17% deaths. It was observed that the most important role for battling SARS rested with the front line professionals. Many health organization including WHO, CDC and various national and local health facilities all over the world has collected the recent and latest information regarding the clinicians, healthcare professionals, explorers, public health officials, many other affected parties and household contacts. (de Vlas et al., 2009)
Various associations have been organized of the international response strategy that is regularly facilitated using the video conferences with best doctors in the operations centers present in the WHO, CDC, and the health authority. Various methods for creating awareness and broadcasting of information is done using the Satellite broadcasts, webcasts, and video conferencing to the all over the health communities of the world. Various health problems due to SARS include the lung infection, illness, etc. The lung infection that is caused due to the virus usually spreads via the direct contact with the droplets that are secreted from the nose, mouth, etc. of infection individual. These droplets remain suspended in the air. The virus is also spread through the direct/indirect contact with the saliva. It had also been reported by The U.S. Centers for Disease Control that SARS also spreads via the contaminated air, objects, surfaces, etc. Hence regular hand-washing is advised along with the sufficiently cleaned surfaces are useful for reduction of transmission of diseases. ("SARS: Risk Assessment and Management", n.d.)
Place Order For A Top Grade Assignment Now
We have some amazing discount offers running for the students
Place Your OrderSummary
There has been no cure or protection found against SARS that is found to be safe for humans, as of 2015. Hence it has become a priority for various health organization and healthcare facilities for developing numerous vaccines and medicine for treatment of SARS all over the world. The only way to for its prevention is to implement healthy practices like regular washing of hands, and using the masks and gloves etc. so as to protect oneself from an injurious infection disease like SARS.
Some other practice involve avoiding the direct or indirect contact with the bodily fluids. The children must be kept from schools in case the symptoms of SARS are seen. The personal items that are always in direct contact must be washed thoroughly using hot and soapy water. These items must include the utensils and dishes and the personal clothes and beddings. Annual influenza and vaccinations for pneumonia might be beneficial.
References
-
SARS: Risk Assessment and Management. Enhs.umn.edu. Retrieved 21 March 2016, from http://enhs.umn.edu/current/5103/SARS/risk.html
-
Christian Hoffmann, e. SARS Reference | Treatment. Sarsreference.com. Retrieved 21 March 2016, from http://sarsreference.com/sarsref/treat.htm
-
SARS | Frequently Asked Questions | CDC. (2016). Cdc.gov. Retrieved 21 March 2016, from http://www.cdc.gov/sars/about/faq.html
-
Yu, W. (2004). Antiviral agents and corticosteroids in the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Thorax, 59(8), 643-645. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/thx.2003.017665
-
SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) - NHS Choices. Nhs.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2016, from http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/sars/Pages/Introduction.aspx
-
de Vlas, S., Feng, D., Cooper, B., Fang, L., Cao, W., & Richardus, J. (2009). The impact of public health control measures during the SARS epidemic in mainland China. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 14, 101-104. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2009.02348.x
-
Rothstein, M. (2003). QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION: LESSONS LEARNED FROM SARS (1st ed., p. 44). Institute for Bioethics, Health Policy and Law University of Louisville School of Medicine. Retrieved from http://www.iaclea.org/members/pdfs/SARS%20REPORT.Rothstein.pdf
Give your grades a boost
Just share your requirements and get customized solutions on time.
-
1,168,768 Orders
-
4.9/5 Overall Rating
-
5,052 Experts
