he influenza season in the northern hemisphere, characterized by a early start and one circulation of virus A (H3N2) (subclade K), raises questions for Latin American health systems heading into next winter. International organizations such as Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have issued alerts about respiratory disease activity in the European region.
Faced with this, since CSHa company specialized in health services and machinery, analyze the situation from the perspective of technological provision and health management. From their perspective, what is happening in Europe offers data for local decision-making. “The central lesson is that preparation cannot be reactive: healthcare pressure can escalate in a few weeks by seasonal variants with minor genetic changes and for the simultaneity of respiratory viruses“, they maintain.
The circulation of the virus in Europe suggests that Latin America has an opportunity to operational adjustment. “The region should use that information as operational and supply anticipation window“, poses Tomás Piqueras, CEO of CSH. The local impact can occur through the introduction of the virus through travel or as a signal to adapt the capacities of the guards and intensive care units.
Historically, seasons with a predominance of H3N2 affect the older adultswhich modifies the technical requirements of hospitals. According to company sources, “demand is shifting from routine equipment to scalable multiparameter monitoring, oxygen and humidification systems, non-invasive and invasive ventilation, respiratory consumables, infusion pumps y critical care bed logistics“And they clarify: “This does not imply that the virus is ‘more severe’ in itself, but that the population risk profile increases the need for clinical support and surveillance.”
Infrastructure and diagnosis
Table of Contents
Regarding the response capacity installed in Argentina, they identify that the deficiencies usually appear in the operational inputs more than in the main teams. The gap is detected in number of monitors and modules, connectivity/monitoring center, availability of non-invasive ventilation and, above all, consumables and maintenance to sustain long shifts.
For the differential diagnosis between this subclade and COVID-19, the recommended strategy is technological migration. CSH experts indicate that they seek to move from single-target tests to a diagnosis syndromic and/or multiplex: combined quick tests (influenza A/B + SARS-CoV-2, and in some cases RSV) and, in the laboratory, RT-PCR multiplex o respiratory panels.
Supply management and role of the State
To avoid shortages of inputs towards the middle of the year, they propose specific contracting mechanisms: multiannual framework agreements with suppliers; agile purchasing mechanisms y technical standardization; y strategic reserves that include logistics capacity and spare parts.
From the private sector, companies work with scenario forecasts y double supply contracts to ensure stock of filters and ventilation circuits. Piqueras states: “For an institution to be resilient, what is non-negotiable is a comprehensive protocol of ‘scalable respiratory capacity’: standardized triage, early monitoring, availability of oxygen therapy and ventilationand one secured consumables chain”.
In this sense, and returning to what was stated at the beginning, the manager maintains that the system’s response to the outbreak depends less on ‘have equipment’ and more than managed installed capacitywhich implies integrated surveillance, escalation plans, data interoperability y assured supply with prior agreements between all sectors of the system.
by RN
Image gallery
