COVID-19 Online Course

1. Welcome video: General introduction to acute respiratory infections and the emergence of coexistence with the Covid-19 virus, by Tiago Alfaro, MD, PhD, Expert in Respiratory Medicine.

2. Context: Viral respiratory disease caused by the COVID-19 virus can range from a simple infection to more complex infections such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome(SARS).This module provides a general introduction to acute respiratory infections COVID-19 and emerging respiratory viruses. 

3. Clinical Scenario: Alice lives alone but a few days ago she went to the nursing home to see her boyfriend. Following this she has generalized pain and she can barely move.

1. Context: This module allows you to practice prevention and control strategies for emerging respiratory pathogens, including a suspected COVID-19 infection.

This module supports health professionals to make clinical judgments in the face of a suspected infection, preparing them to respond to a respiratory virus case. The purpose of this module is to identify a suspected case and properly implement CPI measures, to ensure that there is no further transmission to the healthcare professional or others in the vicinity of the patient.

2. Clinical Scenario: Mark was brought to a local primary care facility due to signs of increased respiratory difficulty and fever.

1. Context: The COVID-19 virus has caused significant medical and economic challenges worldwide and the early detection of the virus and intervention, is essential to prevent its spread and to avoid more serious complications for the carrier and the broader community.

This module provides an insight into the signs and symptoms present in a person with COVID-19. It is intended to provide health professionals with knowledge of the means of transmission of the virus and the correct identification and management of these clinical signs.

2. Clinical Scenario: Hank has had a dry cough for almost one week, and he is not getting better; he complains of a fever and fatigue.

1. Context: There is currently no licensed medication to cure COVID-19, however there are several drugs approved for other indications and associated complications, that support the treatment of  patients with COVID-19.

International guidelines recommend  the administration of broad-spectrum empirical antibiotics for suspected bacterial coinfection and prevention of superinfections in critically ill COVID-19 patients. 

In all, it is highly recommended that doctors use antibiotics with anti-inflammatory activity not only for empirical antibiotic therapy, but also to reduce inflammation to treat septic shock in patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

2. Virtual Clinical Scenario: Mr. Giovannoni has had a dry cough for seven days now, and he is not getting better; he complains of fever and fatigue.

1. Context: This module focuses on the clinical treatment of patients with severe acute respiratory infection. It provides you with crucial knowledge necessary to provide safe, effective and quality care to the patient.

This virtual clinical case addresses all the aspects of clinical management from prevention measures, patient assessment and treatment of the seriously ill patient.

This case requires sustained intervention addressing issues of the prone position and invasive mechanical ventilation.
Several patients with ARDS related to COVID-19  require prone positioning, which represents a challenge for the intensive care unit.

2. Clinical Scenario: After testing positive for COVID-19, Lorenzo was sent to the Intensive Care Unit for close monitoring.

1. Context: The lack of knowledge of the pandemic and its inherent risk of infectious spread, makes its diagnosis and treatment complex.If the virus is found to be present in a patient, pulmonary ultrasound can play an important role in the management of patients with COVID-19-related pneumonia.

Ultrasound provides an immediate, low-cost diagnostic response and can prevent the risk of spreading the infection by preventing the patient from moving within the hospital area.Ultrasonography supports the diagnosis and monitoring of pulmonary pathology in patients with COVID-19.

2. Clinical Scenario: Mr Arturo Ravanelli has a fever with flu-like symptoms for 10 days. The patient has been taking a clarithromycin antibiotic for 3 days and developed a subsequent erythematous skin reaction.

3. Final Video: Video explanation by Professor Stefano Perlini (Director, Emergency Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, and Emergency Fellowship Program, University of Pavia, Italy), regarding the use of pulmonary or ultrasound as an alternative approach for the diagnosis COVID-19.