Journal of Emergency Medicine, Trauma and Acute Care - 2 - Qatar Health 2021 Conference abstracts, August 2021

It feels like yesterday that we wrote the editorial related to the previous issue of the Qatar Health 2020 Conference!1. 2020 is clearly a year to remember globally as a challenging one and this probably contributed to time passing so rapidly, keeping everyone so busy caring for patients and conducting research2. COVID-19 has had a big impact on all aspects of our lives, from the way we deliver patient care and work, to how we s Read More

Background: Diabetic patients are at significant risk of serious complications and higher mortality rates if they contract COVID-191,2,3. Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) in Qatar launched a Diabetes Teleconsultation Clinic to proactively support high risk diabetic patients with a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C) superior or equal to 8 mg/dL and without a primary health care encounter in the last 2-12 months, in an attempt to support this high Read More

Background: As of 26 June 2020, the global number of infections caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), had reached 11 million, with more than 500 thousand associated deaths1. Limited clinical information about COVID-19 on solid organ transplant (SOT) are available so far. We herein report our preliminary experience with COVID-19 in SOT recipients in the first few weeks of the outbreak in Qatar. Read More

Background: The new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Researchers described COVID-19 mortality risk factors as being elderly, male, having comorbidities, and in some ethnicities. Some authors validated the use of first chest x-ray (CXR) severity scores (CSE) as an independent indicator of poor outcomes with COVID-19. Our objective was to evaluate the clinical and CXR findings as pre Read More

Background: COVID-19 antibodies’ longevity following infection is still unclear. Early data brought hope that acquired immunity was possible1 but subsequent studies suggested that immune protection might be short-lived. The results of recent studies provide greater insight into the human immune response to COVID-192,3. The Qatar Gas medical department’s strategy in preventing spread of infection among offshore and onshore work Read More

Background: The rapid spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its resulting disease (COVID-19) is one of the greatest global public health crisis of the recent decades1. The COVID-19 Biorepository is a national project aimed to support the high demand of biomedical research by multiple groups and the need to have access to high quality, curated clinical data, and specimens contributing to the Read More

Background: COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented demand for reagents and diagnostic tools to confirm COVID-19 cases. Thus, the development of a robust in-house diagnostic test is considered of high importance. Within a few days after exposure, the human body produces specific antibodies that recognize the surface proteins of the invading SARS-CoV-2 virus1. Therefore, virus specific immunoglobulins are neutralizing Read More

Background: Lung tomography is used to evaluate the lung parenchyma in diffuse interstitial lung disease. This type of injury can be caused by COVID-19 which emerged in Wuhan China, in December 2019.1 Typical Computed Tomography (CT) findings in individuals with COVID-19 are ground glass opacities, particularly in the peripheral and lower lobes, and bilateral multiple lobular and subsegmental areas of consolidation.2 The authors Read More

Background: In response to the COVID-19 global pandemic the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) in Qatar recognized the need to limit face-to-face consultations within health centers in order to prevent unnecessary spread of the virus by offering an alternative solution for patients to access primary health care1,2. PHCC responded by establishing teleconsultation services (telephone and video) within health centers and establishin Read More

Background: Transport and retrieval of patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support can be hazardous to patients and healthcare workers (HCWs)1. COVID-19 is highly contagious and can be transmitted by contact, droplet, or airborne route. Transport of COVID-19 patients exposes HCWs and the public to infection risks, hence strict measures must be in place to ensure everyone's safety2. ECMO cannulation and transport Read More

Background: Transport and retrieval of patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support can be hazardous with complications reported for up to 27% of patients1. Transport of COVID-19 patients on ECMO requires appropriate training, resource allocation, meticulous planning, effective communication and co-ordination. Strict adherence to infection control procedures and appropriate use of personal protective equi Read More

Background: A rising number of bariatric surgeries (BS) are associated with a rise in medical complications including protein malnutrition and neuromuscular complications (NM). Although BS were minimized during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of admissions due to complications continued to increase. Proper outpatient follow-up was negatively affected during the pandemic. We aim to address the rising rate of post-BS Read More

Background: Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is providing dialysis treatment to approximately 1050 patients. COVID-19 started from China in December 20191,2, and the first case in Qatar was confirmed on 27th February 2020. There were challenges to provide dialysis treatment for COVID-19 positive and negative patients during the pandemic due to severe staff shortage3, staff fear and psychological distress, workload, lack of dial Read More

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic response, Qatar Gas implemented a multi-layer integrated physical barrier system in the field based on an interrelated meshwork of dimensions. It involved the utilization of fiberglass partitions, air purifiers, and dedicated transportation vehicles for suspected cases besides the traditional measures of physical distancing of at least 2 meters between employees, wearing face masks, and hand hygien Read More

Background: Throughout COVID-19, complex therapeutics and medication protocols left clinicians overwhelmed by contradicting information leading to drug-related problems (DRPs) potentially leading to ineffective pharmacotherapy and drug-related morbidity and mortality1,2. DRPs queries are time consuming, utilize numerous resources, and require skills and experience to provide accurate answers3. Quick answers are paramount in the Read More

Background: After a long, unprecedented pause, sporting events were cautiously resumed in Qatar in September 2020. With the persisting COVID-19 uncertainties, characterizing the COVID-19 risks related to sports activities remains to be examined, making it difficult to give clear messages 1. This report describes some of the key challenges and opportunities for communicating COVID-19 risks associated with sporting events. Methods: Read More

Background: During the COVID-19 outbreak, Qatar Biobank (QBB) adapted its services to collect, process, and store high-quality data and specimens. This transformation period brought opportunities, risks, and challenges. Methods: QBB holds College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditation and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification for Quality Management (9001:2105) and Information Security Management Read More

Background: Case investigation and surveillance is a key step in managing any epidemic. This report aimed to identify the main challenges faced by COVID-19 case investigators in Qatar and to suggest possible solutions to improve the case investigation process in managing future pandemics. Methods: Purposive sampling was used to select 40 COVID-19 case investigators posted at the Ministry of Public Health, Qatar. Interviewees Read More

Background: A novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has captured global recognition in a short period of time by dramatically impacting people's everyday lives and emerged as a public health emergency. Undoubtedly, it shows that lessons learned from past coronavirus epidemics such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and the Serious Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) were not adequate and thus left us ill-prepared to deal wit Read More

Background: Establishing a paediatric early warning system in a paediatric Emergency Department (ED) is a complex process and more so with the COVID-19 pandemic. PUMA (PEWS Utilisation & Morality Avoidance) is a qualitative system assessment survey tool which assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the patient care safety processes and systems within a department1. This model draws together evidence from two theoretic Read More