Open AccessCaring for Dialysis Patients in a Time of COVID-19
Author(s) -
Ashish Verma,
Ankit Patel,
Maria Clarissa Tio,
Sushrut S. Waikar
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
kidney medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2590-0595
DOI - 10.1016/j.xkme.2020.07.006
Subject(s) - pandemic , medicine , dialysis , intensive care medicine , covid-19 , hemodialysis , health care , disease , healthcare delivery , public health , end stage kidney disease , kidney disease , coronavirus , medical emergency , emergency medicine , infectious disease (medical specialty) , nursing , economics , economic growth
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a pandemic and a public health emergency. The overwhelming rise in the number of cases has brought significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) are highly vulnerable with the multiple comorbidities that make them susceptible to adverse outcomes with COVID-19. Over 2 million people worldwide receive maintenance hemodialysis (HD) at outpatient centers. Effectively preventing the spread of infection among HD centers, healthcare personnel, and patients is essential to ensure the continued delivery of dialysis to ESKD patients. This article discusses dialysis patients' care during COVID-19, addressing measures for patient and health care personnel protection and care of dialysis patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.