Infection, Isolation And Rehabilitation: A Month From An Emergency Physician At Zhongnan Hospital

In the first line of anti epidemic, the infection and rehabilitation of medical staff are concerned by the outside world. According to the previous Bulletin of the national health and Health Committee, as at 24 hours in February 11th, 1716 cases of newly diagnosed pneumonia confirmed by medical personnel were reported in the whole country, accounting for 3.8% of the total number of confirmed cases in the country, and 6 medical staff had died.

"At present, the infection of medical personnel has already formed parabola, which has dropped to a relatively low level from the peak state of infection." In February 9th, Zhao Zhigang, deputy director of the emergency department of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, told reporters in an interview with twenty-first Century economic report.

He was one of the first medical staff to be infected with the new coronavirus. At the beginning of January, Zhao Zhigang was infected accidentally while he was admitted to the hospital. Suspected symptoms appeared in about January 18th and new crown pneumonia was diagnosed in January 22nd. Because of mild illness, in order not to occupy the bed, Zhao Zhigang volunteered to go home to isolate himself and recover after medication.

On the afternoon of February 9th, outside the emergency department of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, in twenty-first Century, the economic report reporter saw Zhao Zhigang, who had just recovered and returned to work. His mother-in-law and his wife were still receiving isolation treatment.

After returning to work, Zhao Zhigang did not go home again. In order to make his family as little as possible to go out, he would buy some dishes every other day, and each time he could only see a distance from his daughter's ten meters away. He said that until the end of the epidemic, the biggest wish is to go home and hug the daughter.

In the evening of January 7th, a patient suddenly recovered from Zhao Zhigang's illness and was sent back to the hospital temporarily. He had a picture of himself and his two daughters. He sent such a circle of friends: he was sent back to the office by the unit just now. The little princess could not catch the breath. The princess cried with her head down, and my tears rolled around her eyes.

"I have two girls. The eldest is over three years old. She usually has something sensible. It was strange that day, and I was about to leave. I said my father would go to the hospital to save a patient and come back later. Now it looks as if there is a feeling in my heart that my father may be infected this time. Now, of course, it may seem like a joke. " When Zhao Zhigang recalled her daughter, her voice became gentle and her eyes were slightly moist.

A month later, Zhao Zhigang experienced infection, isolation and healing.

In February 9th, a goggle on a doctor was foggy in Suizhou Central Hospital. - Xinhua News Agency

Unprotected infection

On the night of January 7th, Zhao Zhigang was informed that the patient who had been treated two days ago suddenly became ill.

The patient came from Huanggang and judged to have viral pneumonia through CT imaging. However, the patient did not have a history of contact with Southern China seafood market. For safety reasons, the patient was admitted to the emergency ward of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University.

On the second day, the Central South Hospital set the emergency department as an isolation fever ward, and the general department started two level prevention, wearing isolation clothing. During the first three days, the medical staff only wore disposable medical masks when they contacted the patient.

Zhao Zhigang recalled that due to the close interviews with critically ill patients during the process of admissions, each time was longer. During the conversation, although Zhao Zhigang wore surgical masks, the patient did not make any protection. After admission, nursing members need to give patients infusion and do some routine nursing. Because it is a critically ill patient, it takes 20 minutes to half an hour to assess the condition, and the nurses around, but the nurses were wearing conventional masks only for a long time.

On the evening of January 12th, a nurse had a fever of 38 degrees in the Department, followed by headache, fatigue and joint pain. The next day, she was diagnosed with a new coronavirus. Then, one or two days later, another nurse in the same health care group had an early CT and fever.

"Judging by time difference, it is probably because of the patient (infection)." Zhao Zhigang began to get nervous. After that, he did a CT census, and there were no symptoms. Throat swab tests were negative.

However, in January 18th, Zhao Zhigang began to develop symptoms of body aches, chills and fever. His body temperature was 37.5 degrees.

"I thought it was so many days ago that I should not be infected, but after all, the nurses were infected, and I felt calm, maybe I still had problems." So Zhao Zhigang looked for another dormitory in the courtyard and moved away from home to isolate himself.

"At that time, I had a slight fever and my lungs were clean. I thought that after three days, if the throat swabs were turned negative, there would be no symptoms, so I could come back to work earlier. It turned out that the nucleic acid was still positive after two or three days and fever again. I felt a little scared that my lungs would go wrong, and then I started coughing and having a headache. Zhao Zhigang said.

In January 22nd, Zhao Zhigang was diagnosed with new crown pneumonia. After that, Zhao Zhigang began to receive isolation and medication.

"In the early days of my illness, my family and children encouraged me to watch videos with me every day. College students are very concerned about my illness. Because I live in a dormitory, my colleagues give me dumplings, chicken soup, beef... " Zhao Zhigang said that the companionship and concern of his relatives and friends played an important role in his recovery.

Because of early detection and mild illness, Zhao Zhigang's self isolation treatment is relatively smooth. A few days later, the body temperature began to drop and the condition of fatigue was improved.

"I think patients with mild symptoms are fully supported by symptomatic support combined with commonly used anti influenza drugs. Attention should be paid to diet, drinking water and eating high protein and high calorie foods. My own good feeling is not directly related to the medicine I eat, mainly depends on eating. " Zhao Zhigang said.

Online work during illness

"After I was infected, I felt like a deserter. I couldn't help anything." Zhao Zhigang said.

A few days later, after Zhao Zhigang's fever, his mental state gradually improved. At this time, the number of infected patients in Wuhan is increasing every day, and the workload of medical staff is heavy and heavy.

In January 27th, Zhongnan Hospital opened an online inquiry, and the first Zhao Zhigang volunteered to sign up. At the most recent day, Zhao Zhigang received nearly one hundred and eighty people online for more than two hours.

In the process of inquiring, there are people queuing up online 50 or 60. At first I thought a lot of online tension was psychological. However, it turns out that only 30%-40% is really stressful, such as general fever and cough. The remaining 60%-70% patients need to be disposed of, a large proportion of them have reached the level of outpatient screening, and a proportion of them have been diagnosed but still at home, and a certain proportion is severe patients without beds for hospitalization. Zhao Zhigang said.

For different symptoms, Zhao Zhigang grading replied: "too stressed patients tell them to observe, do not be nervous, this is not a new crown pneumonia, do not go to the hospital to avoid cross infection. Mild patients tell him how to take medicine, what places to pay attention to and observe; severe patients walk through community channels and contact beds. If you are seriously ill, call 120 immediately to the emergency room for observation.

After several days of online outpatient service, Zhao Zhigang's body began to recover and soon returned to work. Taking into account the cause of recovery after illness, his current job is less than before.

In Zhao Zhigang's view, everything is moving in the right direction, whether it is the infection of medical staff or the means of prevention and control of the epidemic. At present, the infection of medical personnel has already formed parabola, which has dropped to a relatively low level from the peak state of infection.

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