Specificity
Specificity is an important criterion in diagnostic procedures. Specificity indicates the percentage of people without an illness who are actually identified by a test as being healthy. If, for example, the test correctly identifies 99% of the healthy people, it has a specificity of 99%.
Sensitivity
Sensitivity is an important criterion in diagnostic procedures. Sensitivity indicates the percentage of people with an illness who are actually identified by a test as being ill, i.e. the test result is positive. If, for example, the test picks up 90 out of 100 people who have the illness, it has a sensitivity of 90%. The remaining 10% are so-called false negatives.
Aerosol
An aerosol is a mixture of a gas and microscopic particles from a liquid or a finely dispersed solid. Steam and smoke are aerosols, for example. Droplets that are released when someone coughs, sneezes or vomits form an aerosol in the air.
Coronaviruses
Coronaviruses belong to the family Coronaviridae and were named after their characteristic crown-shaped appearance (the Latin word “corona” translates as wreath or crown). The enveloped viruses cause various illnesses in humans, ranging from the common cold to dangerous or even potentially fatal diseases.
COVID-19
This is the term for the medical condition triggered by SARS-CoV-2. The symptoms are non-specific and are similar to influenza, including fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches and fatigue, among other things. In rare cases, people may cough up blood or phlegm or experience headaches and diarrhea. Since the pathogens mainly cause inflammation of the lower respiratory tract and can cause pneumonia, COVID‑19 is described as a pulmonary disease.
Epidemic
A highly clustered, temporary occurrence of an infectious disease in a localized area.
Ethanol
Ethanol is a short-chain, water-soluble alcohol. Along with 1-propanol and 2-propanol, ethanol is one of the most important alcohols used in hand sanitizers. Ethanol is the only active ingredient that is effective against non-enveloped viruses when used in high concentrations.
FFP Classes
The FFP classes are part of a classification system for particle filtering half-masks that protect against particulate pollutants such as dust, smoke and aerosol. The abbreviation FFP stands for “filtering face piece”. The half masks are standardized according to EN 149 and are divided into the three protection classes FFP1, FFP2 and FFP3. The FFP class depends on the total leakage and the filtration of particle sizes up to 0.6 μm. The total leakage is caused by the filter passage and possible leaks at the nose, chin or eyes.
FFP1 Masks
FFP1 masks protect against non-toxic and non-fibrogenic dusts. The total leakage may not exceed 25%. The masks must capture at least 80% of airborne particles up to a size of 0.6 μm and may be used if the occupational exposure limit value does not exceed 4 times the concentration.
FFP2 Masks
FFP2 masks protect against solid and liquid harmful dusts, smoke and aerosols. The total leakage may not exceed 11%. The masks must capture at least 94% of airborne particles up to a size of 0.6 μm and may be used if the occupational exposure limit value does not exceed 10 times the concentration.
FFP3 Masks
FFP3 masks protect against toxic and harmful dust, smoke and aerosols. The total leakage may not exceed 5%. The masks must capture at least 99% of airborne particles up to a size of 0.6 μm and may be used if the occupational exposure limit value does not exceed 30 times the concentration.
Herd Immunity
Herd immunity means that an entire population is protected from a contagious disease as a high percentage of the population is immune to it, whether that be through infection or vaccination. This means that even individuals who are not immune are protected because the pathogen cannot spread.
Hydrophilicity
Hydrophilicity means water-receptive and describes the property of substances to dissolve or absorb water when placed in water or other polar substances.
Hygienic hand disinfection
Hygienic hand disinfection refers to applying a sanitizer onto the hands in order to eliminate the transient (volatile) skin flora. For this purpose, approx. 3 ml of alcoholic preparation is placed in the palm of a dry hand and rubbed in for 30 seconds. According to the Robert Koch Institute, hygienic hand disinfection is considered to be the most effective single measure for interrupting chains of infection.
Hand Disinfection
Hand disinfection is a procedure that reduces the number of pathogens on your hands by using hand sanitizers.
Chain of infection
The chain of infection describes the path of a pathogen from one host to another target organism.
Contact infection
Contact infection is the transmission of pathogens through direct physical contact (touch, injury, sexual contact, infectious droplets) with an infectious living organism.
Log10 Units
A log10 unit is a unit for measuring germ reduction by one power of ten.
MERS
MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) refers to an infection of the respiratory tract. The infection is triggered by the MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which was identified for the first time in 2012. Healthy people usually only display mild, flu-like symptoms. However, particularly in people with chronic, pre-existing health conditions, very serious and sometimes fatal respiratory diseases may occur. Infections with MERS-CoV were predominantly reported in Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region. Dromedary camels are considered to be the reservoir of infection.
Pandemic
A pandemic is the transnational, worldwide spread of an infectious disease with high morbidity rates.
RNA
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a nucleic acid found in the cells of all living organisms. As an information carrier, RNA plays a vital role in converting genetic information into proteins.
SARS-CoV-2
In the past, coronaviruses sometimes have led to dangerous diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The novel coronavirus, which has been spreading since December 2019 and causes pneumonia, was named SARS-CoV-2 in February 2020 due to its close relationship to the SARS virus.
Droplet Infection
Droplet infection is the transmission of pathogens via small droplets that are released when someone speaks, coughs or sneezes and then these are inhaled by other people.
Viruses
Enveloped viruses have a lipid membrane, such as. B. HBV, HCV, HIV and influenza viruses. The lipid membrane of enveloped viruses can be destroyed by alcohols such as ethanol or 2-propanol. Enveloped viruses are more unstable to disinfectants than non-enveloped viruses. Enveloped viruses can be killed with disinfectants that have a limited range of virucidal activity.
Bare viruses have no lipid membrane. Enveloped viruses include, for example, enteroviruses, noroviruses, rota and adenoviruses. Unwrapped viruses are more stable against disinfectants than enveloped viruses. They can be killed with disinfectants that have a virucidal spectrum of activity.
Virucidal
The virucidal efficacy spectrum describes the effectiveness against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses.
The limited virucidal efficacy spectrum refers to the effectiveness against enveloped viruses. These include the new Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, as well as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV).
The limited virucidal PLUS efficacy spectrum refers to the effectiveness against enveloped viruses as well as the non-enveloped noroviruses, rotaviruses and adenoviruses.
The efficacy spectrum was introduced in 2016 in addition to the previously known virucidal efficacy spectra and limited virucidal agent. Disinfectants from the category limited virucidal agent PLUS inactivate all enveloped viruses as well as the non-enveloped noroviruses, rotaviruses and adenoviruses.
Noroviruses, rotaviruses and adenoviruses often cause outbreaks in hospitals, nursing homes and also in public institutions. Noroviruses, rotaviruses and adenoviruses belong to the group of non-enveloped viruses, but are easier for disinfectants to inactivate compared to other non-enveloped viruses due to their lower hydrophilicity.
WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded on April 7th as a specialized agency of the United Nations with its headquarters in Geneva. 194 countries are members of WHO, which coordinates international public health and global health issues on behalf of the United Nations. The WHO is tasked with developing and defining globally applicable norms and standards for areas relating to health, as well as unifying these and implementing them across the world. Important fields of action include the global coordination of national and international activities against communicable diseases such as AIDS, malaria, SARS and influenza, the initiation of global vaccination programs and activities against health risk factors such as smoking or being overweight.
The WHO employs more than 7,000 staff and is divided into 6 regions, each of which is managed by a Regional Office. The highest decision-making body of the World Health Organization is the World Health Assembly (WHA), which meets every year in Geneva.
Source:
Bundesministerium für Gesundheit. https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/service/begriffe-von-a-z/w/weltgesundheitsorganisation-who.html.
Hygienemanagement
17.11.2021
Lessons Learned for PPE
Personal protective equipment, including masks, prevents COVID-19 infections and other viral respiratory diseases. Experts are currently warning of a high increase in influenza infections as well as respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV). FFP2 protective masks are also part of the RKI’s prevention concept for these infections.
The most important facts:
- Experts are currently warning of an increase in influenza, parainfluenza-3 and respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV).
- They see the reasons behind this being a reduced basic immunity level and the decline in compliance with hygiene measures.
- The parallel occurrence of SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and influenza can lead to huge pressures on health institutions.
- Transmissions and the risk of secondary bacterial pneumonia can be prevented through hygiene and PPE with FFP2 protective masks.
Experts from the Robert Koch Institute and the Clinical Virology Network (CVN) are warning of a significant increase in viral respiratory diseases. According to the CVN, which deals with the systematic recording of respiratory infections, the number of infections in Germany has almost doubled compared to pre-pandemic levels. Especially in the 0 to 4 year-old age group, infections are at a very high level. Two thirds of the cases compiled are RSV related. The virus occurs mainly in young children.
Reduced basic immunity
One of the reasons for the increase in infections is the lack of basic immunity in children over the last two seasons. The hygiene measures used to prevent COVID-19 have also prevented other viruses from spreading significantly. With the relaxation of the measures, the number of cases is increasing. At the same time, the viruses are coming into contact with children who have not yet formed a defense. The CVN experts attribute another reason for the worrying increase in viral respiratory diseases to lower compliance with hygiene measures.
Prevention thanks to basic hygiene and PPE
To prevent viral respiratory infections, basic hygiene and the proper wearing of respiratory protection are important measures. Compliance with prevention measures is urgently needed to mitigate the consequences of a parallel emergence of SARS-CoV-2, RSV and influenza viruses.
The Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention (Kommission für Krankenhaushygiene und Infektionsprävention; KRINKO) at the Robert Koch Institute has provided the following recommendations for caring for and treating patients with respiratory diseases caused by the viruses that are prevalent throughout autumn/winter:
- Influenza A and B virus
7 days after the onset of symptoms:
Isolation room
Disposable gloves
Protective gown
Face mask
Required disinfectant spectrum: Limited virucidal agent
- Respiratory syncytial virus
During the duration of the symptoms:
Isolation room
Disposable gloves
Protective gown
Face mask
Required disinfectant spectrum: Limited virucidal agent
- Parainfluenza virus
During the duration of the symptoms:
Isolation room
Disposable gloves
Protective gown
Face mask
Required disinfectant spectrum: Limited virucidal agent
- Human metapneumovirus
During the duration of the symptoms:
Isolation room
Disposable gloves
Protective gown
Face mask
Required disinfectant spectrum: Limited virucidal agent
- Rhinovirus
Disposable gloves
Required disinfectant spectrum: Virucidal agent
TIP
- A face mask must be tight fitting to provide adequate protection. The nosepiece should be pressed firmly against the nose; if necessary, the mask can be readjusted using the straps.
- When wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), there is a risk of contamination. Pathogens can then be passed on from the PPE to the employees’ hands. The majority of contamination risks occur while removing PPE. This is why the correct sequence must be observed when removing the PPE.
Download: How to properly remove personal protective equipment (PPE)
Sources:
Liang En Ian Wee et al. (2021). Unintended consequences of infection prevention and control measures during COVID-19 pandemic. American Journal of Infection Control.
Clinical Virology Network (CVN) (2021). Aktivität respiratorischer Viren. https://clinical-virology.net/de/charts/chart/ctype/count/network/resp/section/viruses. Letzter Zugriff am 28.10.21
Empfehlung der Kommission für Krankenhaushygiene und Infektionsprävention (KRINKO) beim Robert Koch-Institut (2015). Infektionsprävention im Rahmen der Pflege und Behandlung von Patienten mit übertragbaren Krankheiten.
Tomas et al. (2015). Contamination of Health Care Personnel During Removal of Personal Protective Equipment. JAMA Intern Med.
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