What is RapidInfo4U?
What is RapidInfo4U?
RapidInfo4U is a simple service for health professionals – it provides access to knowledge relevant to clinical practice in the context of COVID-19. It does this in two ways:
1. Users can ask us a question – our team of researchers and experienced clinicians will conduct a rapid evidence search and summary, drawing on a wealth of experience in specific areas to provide a rapid response on queries related to health professional practice and COVID-19.
2. Users can search our Repository which contains carefully selected resources such as government guidelines, professional body recommendations and research evidence to support health professional practice.
Who is it for?
RapidInfo4U is for health professionals in the fields of Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Speech & Language Therapy, Nutrition & Dietetics and Physiotherapy and aims to support health professional practice in Ireland.
Read more about RapidInfo4U here.
How do I use RapidInfo4U?
QUESTIONS WE HAVE ANSWERED
Question
- What is the evidence to support high flow nasal oxygen in COVID-19 management?
- Does high flow nasal oxygen result in increased droplet dispersion and aerosol generation in COVID-19 patients?
Short Answer
High flow nasal oxygen for the management of COVID-19 is a controversial topic due to a lack of high-quality research into its efficacy and its potential as an aerosol-generating procedure. Systematic reviews commissioned by the World Health Organization found that high-flow nasal cannulas may reduce the need for invasive ventilation and the escalation of treatments over conventional oxygen therapy in COVID-19 patients. However, they caution that this potential advantage must be weighed against the currently unknown risk of droplet and aerosol transmission: there is currently no research evidence directly examining the consequent dispersion of COVID-19 virus for this procedure. A number of actions can reduce any potential risk: deliver HFNO in negative-pressure rooms and/or ensure proper ventilation; use an increased area of precaution; ensure staff have protective PPE; and place surgical masks on patients receiving the HFNO.
The content of this document is correct as of 04/12/20.
QUESTION
- Is there any evidence to suggest chest physiotherapy is an aerosol-generating procedure?
- Does the evidence compare different types of chest physiotherapy treatment techniques – and whether certain treatments may be more aerosol generating than others? (i.e. positive pressure devices, oscillating devices, cough assist, breathing techniques, patient coughing, suction etc).
SHORT ANSWER
There is insufficient evidence to state that chest physiotherapy is an aerosol-generating procedure. However, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. International and national professional physiotherapy bodies have endorsed guidelines for physiotherapy management during COVID-19 which state that chest physiotherapy interventions are potentially aerosol-generating procedures and strongly recommend using airborne precautions when delivering these interventions. Furthermore, a recent systematic review classified chest physiotherapy interventions as potentially aerosol-generating and recommended, for the purposes of selecting personal protective equipment, that such procedures be treated as aerosol-generating.
The content of this document is correct as of 04/12/20.
Comment on this FAQ
Question
What is the latest evidence regarding conscious proning of COVID-19 patients?
At what level of oxygen is it best to commence proning?
When should you stop proning as the patient is improving?
Short Answer
The current evidence for conscious proning is of poor quality and fails to answer several key questions required to inform clinical practice, including the optimum conditions for commencing and ceasing proning. There are multiple RCTs underway that will address these gaps in knowledge over the coming months.
The content of this document is correct as of 27/11/2020.
Comment on this FAQ
Question
1.What is current guidance for cleaning a room after a hands-on physiotherapy session?
2.What are the current recommended products for effectively cleaning surfaces?
3.Do I have to wait a certain amount of time to clean my treatment room after a session?
Short answer
1.Clean with detergent and water followed by rinsing and drying. If a surface is suspected or known to have been contaminated by infectious material a disinfected should be used after cleaning.
2.A neutral detergent with water for cleaning and a chlorine-based product, such as sodium hypochlorite, for disinfecting.
3.HSPC cleaning protocols do not stipulate that a certain amount of time should be left between seeing a patient and cleaning. HSPC guidelines state that COVID-19 virus droplets produced by an infected patient will land on surfaces “within minutes” of production. They do not state how many minutes precisely. Research has found that large droplets fall within 1 second while smaller droplets can take up to 9 minutes to fall to the ground.
The content of this answer is correct as of 02/10/2020
Comment on this FAQ
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Question
- What is the evidence to support high flow nasal oxygen in COVID-19 management?
- Does high flow nasal oxygen result in increased droplet dispersion and aerosol generation in COVID-19 patients?
Short Answer
High flow nasal oxygen for the management of COVID-19 is a controversial topic due to a lack of high-quality research into its efficacy and its potential as an aerosol-generating procedure. Systematic reviews commissioned by the World Health Organization found that high-flow nasal cannulas may reduce the need for invasive ventilation and the escalation of treatments over conventional oxygen therapy in COVID-19 patients. However, they caution that this potential advantage must be weighed against the currently unknown risk of droplet and aerosol transmission: there is currently no research evidence directly examining the consequent dispersion of COVID-19 virus for this procedure. A number of actions can reduce any potential risk: deliver HFNO in negative-pressure rooms and/or ensure proper ventilation; use an increased area of precaution; ensure staff have protective PPE; and place surgical masks on patients receiving the HFNO.
The content of this document is correct as of 04/12/20.
Comment on this FAQ
QUESTION
- Is there any evidence to suggest chest physiotherapy is an aerosol-generating procedure?
- Does the evidence compare different types of chest physiotherapy treatment techniques – and whether certain treatments may be more aerosol generating than others? (i.e. positive pressure devices, oscillating devices, cough assist, breathing techniques, patient coughing, suction etc).
SHORT ANSWER
There is insufficient evidence to state that chest physiotherapy is an aerosol-generating procedure. However, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. International and national professional physiotherapy bodies have endorsed guidelines for physiotherapy management during COVID-19 which state that chest physiotherapy interventions are potentially aerosol-generating procedures and strongly recommend using airborne precautions when delivering these interventions. Furthermore, a recent systematic review classified chest physiotherapy interventions as potentially aerosol-generating and recommended, for the purposes of selecting personal protective equipment, that such procedures be treated as aerosol-generating.
The content of this document is correct as of 04/12/20.
Comment on this FAQ
Question
What is the latest evidence regarding conscious proning of COVID-19 patients?
At what level of oxygen is it best to commence proning?
When should you stop proning as the patient is improving?
Short Answer
The current evidence for conscious proning is of poor quality and fails to answer several key questions required to inform clinical practice, including the optimum conditions for commencing and ceasing proning. There are multiple RCTs underway that will address these gaps in knowledge over the coming months.
The content of this document is correct as of 27/11/2020.
Comment on this FAQ
Question
1.What is current guidance for cleaning a room after a hands-on physiotherapy session?
2.What are the current recommended products for effectively cleaning surfaces?
3.Do I have to wait a certain amount of time to clean my treatment room after a session?
Short answer
1.Clean with detergent and water followed by rinsing and drying. If a surface is suspected or known to have been contaminated by infectious material a disinfected should be used after cleaning.
2.A neutral detergent with water for cleaning and a chlorine-based product, such as sodium hypochlorite, for disinfecting.
3.HSPC cleaning protocols do not stipulate that a certain amount of time should be left between seeing a patient and cleaning. HSPC guidelines state that COVID-19 virus droplets produced by an infected patient will land on surfaces “within minutes” of production. They do not state how many minutes precisely. Research has found that large droplets fall within 1 second while smaller droplets can take up to 9 minutes to fall to the ground.
The content of this answer is correct as of 02/10/2020
Comment on this FAQ
Load More
Question
- What is the evidence to support high flow nasal oxygen in COVID-19 management?
- Does high flow nasal oxygen result in increased droplet dispersion and aerosol generation in COVID-19 patients?
Short Answer
High flow nasal oxygen for the management of COVID-19 is a controversial topic due to a lack of high-quality research into its efficacy and its potential as an aerosol-generating procedure. Systematic reviews commissioned by the World Health Organization found that high-flow nasal cannulas may reduce the need for invasive ventilation and the escalation of treatments over conventional oxygen therapy in COVID-19 patients. However, they caution that this potential advantage must be weighed against the currently unknown risk of droplet and aerosol transmission: there is currently no research evidence directly examining the consequent dispersion of COVID-19 virus for this procedure. A number of actions can reduce any potential risk: deliver HFNO in negative-pressure rooms and/or ensure proper ventilation; use an increased area of precaution; ensure staff have protective PPE; and place surgical masks on patients receiving the HFNO.
The content of this document is correct as of 04/12/20.
Comment on this FAQ
QUESTION
- Is there any evidence to suggest chest physiotherapy is an aerosol-generating procedure?
- Does the evidence compare different types of chest physiotherapy treatment techniques – and whether certain treatments may be more aerosol generating than others? (i.e. positive pressure devices, oscillating devices, cough assist, breathing techniques, patient coughing, suction etc).
SHORT ANSWER
There is insufficient evidence to state that chest physiotherapy is an aerosol-generating procedure. However, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. International and national professional physiotherapy bodies have endorsed guidelines for physiotherapy management during COVID-19 which state that chest physiotherapy interventions are potentially aerosol-generating procedures and strongly recommend using airborne precautions when delivering these interventions. Furthermore, a recent systematic review classified chest physiotherapy interventions as potentially aerosol-generating and recommended, for the purposes of selecting personal protective equipment, that such procedures be treated as aerosol-generating.
The content of this document is correct as of 04/12/20.
Comment on this FAQ
Question
What is the latest evidence regarding conscious proning of COVID-19 patients?
At what level of oxygen is it best to commence proning?
When should you stop proning as the patient is improving?
Short Answer
The current evidence for conscious proning is of poor quality and fails to answer several key questions required to inform clinical practice, including the optimum conditions for commencing and ceasing proning. There are multiple RCTs underway that will address these gaps in knowledge over the coming months.
The content of this document is correct as of 27/11/2020.
Comment on this FAQ
Question
1.What is current guidance for cleaning a room after a hands-on physiotherapy session?
2.What are the current recommended products for effectively cleaning surfaces?
3.Do I have to wait a certain amount of time to clean my treatment room after a session?
Short answer
1.Clean with detergent and water followed by rinsing and drying. If a surface is suspected or known to have been contaminated by infectious material a disinfected should be used after cleaning.
2.A neutral detergent with water for cleaning and a chlorine-based product, such as sodium hypochlorite, for disinfecting.
3.HSPC cleaning protocols do not stipulate that a certain amount of time should be left between seeing a patient and cleaning. HSPC guidelines state that COVID-19 virus droplets produced by an infected patient will land on surfaces “within minutes” of production. They do not state how many minutes precisely. Research has found that large droplets fall within 1 second while smaller droplets can take up to 9 minutes to fall to the ground.
The content of this answer is correct as of 02/10/2020
Comment on this FAQ
Load More
Question
- What is the evidence to support high flow nasal oxygen in COVID-19 management?
- Does high flow nasal oxygen result in increased droplet dispersion and aerosol generation in COVID-19 patients?
Short Answer
High flow nasal oxygen for the management of COVID-19 is a controversial topic due to a lack of high-quality research into its efficacy and its potential as an aerosol-generating procedure. Systematic reviews commissioned by the World Health Organization found that high-flow nasal cannulas may reduce the need for invasive ventilation and the escalation of treatments over conventional oxygen therapy in COVID-19 patients. However, they caution that this potential advantage must be weighed against the currently unknown risk of droplet and aerosol transmission: there is currently no research evidence directly examining the consequent dispersion of COVID-19 virus for this procedure. A number of actions can reduce any potential risk: deliver HFNO in negative-pressure rooms and/or ensure proper ventilation; use an increased area of precaution; ensure staff have protective PPE; and place surgical masks on patients receiving the HFNO.
The content of this document is correct as of 04/12/20.
Comment on this FAQ
QUESTION
- Is there any evidence to suggest chest physiotherapy is an aerosol-generating procedure?
- Does the evidence compare different types of chest physiotherapy treatment techniques – and whether certain treatments may be more aerosol generating than others? (i.e. positive pressure devices, oscillating devices, cough assist, breathing techniques, patient coughing, suction etc).
SHORT ANSWER
There is insufficient evidence to state that chest physiotherapy is an aerosol-generating procedure. However, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. International and national professional physiotherapy bodies have endorsed guidelines for physiotherapy management during COVID-19 which state that chest physiotherapy interventions are potentially aerosol-generating procedures and strongly recommend using airborne precautions when delivering these interventions. Furthermore, a recent systematic review classified chest physiotherapy interventions as potentially aerosol-generating and recommended, for the purposes of selecting personal protective equipment, that such procedures be treated as aerosol-generating.
The content of this document is correct as of 04/12/20.
Comment on this FAQ
Question
What is the latest evidence regarding conscious proning of COVID-19 patients?
At what level of oxygen is it best to commence proning?
When should you stop proning as the patient is improving?
Short Answer
The current evidence for conscious proning is of poor quality and fails to answer several key questions required to inform clinical practice, including the optimum conditions for commencing and ceasing proning. There are multiple RCTs underway that will address these gaps in knowledge over the coming months.
The content of this document is correct as of 27/11/2020.
Comment on this FAQ
Question
1.What is current guidance for cleaning a room after a hands-on physiotherapy session?
2.What are the current recommended products for effectively cleaning surfaces?
3.Do I have to wait a certain amount of time to clean my treatment room after a session?
Short answer
1.Clean with detergent and water followed by rinsing and drying. If a surface is suspected or known to have been contaminated by infectious material a disinfected should be used after cleaning.
2.A neutral detergent with water for cleaning and a chlorine-based product, such as sodium hypochlorite, for disinfecting.
3.HSPC cleaning protocols do not stipulate that a certain amount of time should be left between seeing a patient and cleaning. HSPC guidelines state that COVID-19 virus droplets produced by an infected patient will land on surfaces “within minutes” of production. They do not state how many minutes precisely. Research has found that large droplets fall within 1 second while smaller droplets can take up to 9 minutes to fall to the ground.
The content of this answer is correct as of 02/10/2020
Comment on this FAQ
Load More
Question
- What is the evidence to support high flow nasal oxygen in COVID-19 management?
- Does high flow nasal oxygen result in increased droplet dispersion and aerosol generation in COVID-19 patients?
Short Answer
High flow nasal oxygen for the management of COVID-19 is a controversial topic due to a lack of high-quality research into its efficacy and its potential as an aerosol-generating procedure. Systematic reviews commissioned by the World Health Organization found that high-flow nasal cannulas may reduce the need for invasive ventilation and the escalation of treatments over conventional oxygen therapy in COVID-19 patients. However, they caution that this potential advantage must be weighed against the currently unknown risk of droplet and aerosol transmission: there is currently no research evidence directly examining the consequent dispersion of COVID-19 virus for this procedure. A number of actions can reduce any potential risk: deliver HFNO in negative-pressure rooms and/or ensure proper ventilation; use an increased area of precaution; ensure staff have protective PPE; and place surgical masks on patients receiving the HFNO.
The content of this document is correct as of 04/12/20.
Comment on this FAQ
QUESTION
- Is there any evidence to suggest chest physiotherapy is an aerosol-generating procedure?
- Does the evidence compare different types of chest physiotherapy treatment techniques – and whether certain treatments may be more aerosol generating than others? (i.e. positive pressure devices, oscillating devices, cough assist, breathing techniques, patient coughing, suction etc).
SHORT ANSWER
There is insufficient evidence to state that chest physiotherapy is an aerosol-generating procedure. However, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. International and national professional physiotherapy bodies have endorsed guidelines for physiotherapy management during COVID-19 which state that chest physiotherapy interventions are potentially aerosol-generating procedures and strongly recommend using airborne precautions when delivering these interventions. Furthermore, a recent systematic review classified chest physiotherapy interventions as potentially aerosol-generating and recommended, for the purposes of selecting personal protective equipment, that such procedures be treated as aerosol-generating.
The content of this document is correct as of 04/12/20.
Comment on this FAQ
Question
What is the latest evidence regarding conscious proning of COVID-19 patients?
At what level of oxygen is it best to commence proning?
When should you stop proning as the patient is improving?
Short Answer
The current evidence for conscious proning is of poor quality and fails to answer several key questions required to inform clinical practice, including the optimum conditions for commencing and ceasing proning. There are multiple RCTs underway that will address these gaps in knowledge over the coming months.
The content of this document is correct as of 27/11/2020.
Comment on this FAQ
Question
1.What is current guidance for cleaning a room after a hands-on physiotherapy session?
2.What are the current recommended products for effectively cleaning surfaces?
3.Do I have to wait a certain amount of time to clean my treatment room after a session?
Short answer
1.Clean with detergent and water followed by rinsing and drying. If a surface is suspected or known to have been contaminated by infectious material a disinfected should be used after cleaning.
2.A neutral detergent with water for cleaning and a chlorine-based product, such as sodium hypochlorite, for disinfecting.
3.HSPC cleaning protocols do not stipulate that a certain amount of time should be left between seeing a patient and cleaning. HSPC guidelines state that COVID-19 virus droplets produced by an infected patient will land on surfaces “within minutes” of production. They do not state how many minutes precisely. Research has found that large droplets fall within 1 second while smaller droplets can take up to 9 minutes to fall to the ground.
The content of this answer is correct as of 02/10/2020
Comment on this FAQ
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RapidInfo4U is part of the Irish Government’s national coordinated research and innovation response to the COVID-19 pandemic. RapidInfo4U is funded by a Health Research Board COVID-19 Pandemic – Rapid response funding award and managed by the Health Implementation Science and Technology cluster at the University of Limerick.
Comment on this FAQ