Medical Devices for Pharmacy and Other Healthcare Professions

What is it about?

Chapter-14 of the Book Medical Devices for Infectious Diseases By Elhassan Hussein Eltom, Mohamed Awad Mousnad ABSTRACT During epidemics and pandemics of highly contagious diseases such as those associated with Ebola (EVD) and coronaviruses (including SARS, MERS, and COVID-19), frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) face the risk of becoming infected because of their direct contact with patients. In such circumstances, personal protective equipment (PPE) is highly recommended to control infection transmission. The selection of PPE depends upon the risk of exposure and the route of transmission. The degree of prevention offered by PPE varies based on the setting and procedures. Therefore, we can conclude that evidence-based studies about the efficacy and safety of PPE in different settings would be highly appreciated to support the ideal selection, procurement, and distribution of PPE. A rapid diagnostic test (RDT) is a medical diagnostic test that is easy and quick to perform. RDTs are suitable for quick screening of a wide range of medical conditions, especially in resource-limited and remote healthcare facilities. They can provide quick, reputable results within minutes or up to no more than one hour. RDTs are essential for better treatment outcomes, formulating public health policies, and preventing outbreaks of communicable diseases. Therefore, it is time to fulfill the need for technological advancements in RDT through research and development centers to improve their efficacy, sensitivity, reliability, usability, and affordability. In recent years, the demand for health technology assessments is dramatically increased on pharmacological products and medical devices for efficacy/safety issues.

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