Critical Care News

An analysis of the need for inpatient and ICU beds during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in two Chinese cities indicates that early implementation of strict disease control strategies is needed to prevent overload of local health care systems in U.S. cities.

So far this year, 88 nurses have died of COVID-19 as of May 6, according to National Nurses United, or NNU, the largest union of registered nurses in the United States.

The nephrology community has faced unique challenges since increasing numbers of people have become infected with the novel coronavirus, deemed COVID-19.

Researchers have developed an at-home anaphylaxis management algorithm for patients who need emergency epinephrine treatment. Importantly, it may prevent unnecessary ED visits — a particularly helpful development given the risk that COVID-19 poses in health care settings.

Leaders of states and cities with the highest burden of COVID-19 early in the pandemic have called for resources — from ventilators to medical personnel — to be shifted to these areas.

In new guidance, a panel of pediatric infectious diseases physicians and pharmacists suggested that supportive care alone is sufficient to treat most children with COVID-19. Among children who develop severe or critical cases — a rare occurrence — the panel suggested the use of remdesivir as the preferred antiviral.

The American Nephrology Nurses Association has recently launched an online tool that consists of an interactive map designed to ensure that the areas of greatest need have an adequate number of nephrology nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The unique challenges of COVID-19 require adjustments to the delivery of palliative care during the pandemic, according to an article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Medical schools across the country have announced that they are graduating final year medical students early to allow them to enter their residencies as much-needed additions to the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During a virtual Town Hall meeting recently hosted by the AMA, experts reviewed the latest research on COVID-19 and addressed questions from health care providers on the front lines about the availability of personal protective equipment, treatments for COVID-19 and efforts to secure the financial stability of private practices.