COVID Flashcards
When do people qualify for 6mg dexamethasone?
When requiring O2 - can give for up to 10 days
Neuromuscular blockers used in COVID ventilation and why
Examples include suxemethonium (depolarising) and rocuronium (non-depolarising) and the aim is to decrease the amount of ventilator dyssynchrony in ARDS
Postioning of patient in COVID ventilations
As per ARDS - prone for more than 12 hours per day
Describe the type of Virus that Covid is
SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped Beta-coronovirus. Genetically similar to CoV-1.
COVID: mechanism of entry to cell
Coated envelope with S glycoprotein, envelope (E) and membrane (M) proteins. Binding is through the S protein. The S1 subunit binds to the ACE2 receptor on cells. The S2 component is thought to be a potential anti-viral target.
ACE2 receptors are predominantly on airway epithelium and also vascular epithelium.
Why is CoV-2 more infectious than CoV-1
CoV-2 has a higher R0 i.e. reproductive number.
What test is used to detect CoV-2 in the upper resp. tract?
Quantitative reverse transciption polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).
Note- this does not equate to infectivity.
When is transmission capacity the greatest?
Maximal in the first week of illness.
Findings of ARDS on autopsy
hyaline-membrane formation, interstitial mononuclear inflammatory infiltrates, and desquamation. Can also have fibroblast infiltration (stiffens lungs)
