In this article, we will discuss the importance of the electronic stethoscope in the isolation of patients.
SARS-CoV-2, a highly contagious virus
We are sure that by now, practically everyone has heard of this new virulent outbreak originating in China. And the reason is related to its easy spread, which is becoming difficult to contain.
The WHO raised the risk of infection to “very high” worldwide. Due to the increasing number of cases outside China. In Spain, the number of cases is over 13,000, and a pandemic emergency is in place.
Therefore, global health measures focus on what is most urgent: contain its spread, and any action that helps to this end must be applied.
What symptoms are related to the “new coronavirus”?
This new pathogen initially called 2019nCoV. Currently, SARS-CoV-2 causes “Covid-19” disease, which consists of a respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus that was first identified in Wuhan, in the province from Hubei, in China in December
SARS: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
SARS’ severe acute respiratory syndrome is a viral respiratory illness caused by coronavirus associated with the SARS (SARS-CoV).
The virus infects the respiratory tract and causes symptoms ranging from a mild condition (dry cough, fever) to acute respiratory failure and life-threatening pneumonia.
In short, this new coronavirus has pulmonary pathologies that need careful monitoring since, in patients with a previous condition, it becomes life-threatening, as well as highly contagious.
How is coronavirus transmitted?
The virus is mainly transmitted by air at close range, depositing in the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose or eyes of nearby people.
Second, the virus can also spread when a person touches an object contaminated with infected droplets and then touches the mouth, nose or eyes.
Stethoscopes are a source of virus spreads
The stethoscope is one of the most necessary medical devices to control the evolution of lung pathologies, such as those caused by the coronavirus.
But the problem arises when doctors perform pulmonary auscultation with a stethoscope that forces them to be very close to the patient, especially when dealing with viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, which are highly contagious proximity and direct contact.
How can electronic stethoscopes help to slow the coronavirus spread?
Measures to control the expansion of the coronavirus are related to isolate the infectious source, avoiding closeness and contact with virus-infected carriers.
To help with this task that is turning out complicated as the daily expansion data indicates, eKuore company has a solution.
The eKuore Pro medical device is a state-of-the-art wireless stethoscope that allows medical professionals to perform auscultations without contact with the patient.
Besides, the chestpieces are disposable, avoiding infection from one patient to another.
Benefits of using eKuore electronic stethoscope in the isolation of patients
The eKuore Pro medical device helps healthcare professionals obtain pulmonary auscultations of patients while reducing the risk of COVID-19 infectious spreads.
# 1 Isolation between doctor and potentially infected patient
Without any cable that requires maintaining a close distance with the infected patient, the medical professional can listen to the lungs sounds even from an isolated room and without needing to wear a special suit to avoid infection. Using a mobile device, you will remotely receive the auscultations from all patients to listen and evaluate without entering into the disease’s risk.
In other cases, it may also be the same patient who is auscultated from home, thus reducing the risk of infection to a minimum. The patient, through the APP, can send the auscultation to the healthcare professional in real-time.
# 2 Interchangeable and suitable chest pieces to prevent infection
The chest piece is the most critical element of a stethoscope because it is the part that comes into direct contact with the infected patient, reducing the risk of infection. eKuore Pro device has interchangeable and suitable chest pieces, which allows a doctor to have different chest pieces and replace them when he considers sanitizing them or even discarding them if it were the case. It also has three different chest piece sizes according to the needs (Adult, paediatric and neonatal).
# 3 Record auscultations to check the patient evolution
Through the eKuore Pro’s APP, we can access a complete history of all recorded auscultations performed on a patient. In this way, medical professionals can track the patient’s evolution. Likewise, it will allow non-specialized personnel to take recordings of auscultations in isolated patients for later sending to the specialist.
Conclusions
At this point, there is no doubt that we are facing a highly contagious virus, where the highest priority is to contain its spreads. Thus, every measure is small; even taking control measures, we find that the infection continues spreading because not all the sanitary elements allow more excellent isolation.
The eKuore company wishes to inform all healthcare personnel of the advantages of using an electronic stethoscope such as the eKuore Pro, which presents clear improvement points containing the COVID-19 spreads.
If you want more information on how eKuore can help you with this new coronavirus, do not hesitate to contact us.
