The advent of the seemingly perennial respiratory illness season, known colloquially as a ‘tossed salad’ of viruses, hasn’t managed to overwhelm doctors and healthcare professionals in Maryland. Despite a surge in hospitalizations arising from COVID-19 and influenza, the state’s healthcare system has managed to stay afloat and remain operational. Adventist HealthCare, a non-profit hospital network headquartered in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland, has seen the number of patients seeking treatment for respiratory illness increase steadily since the week leading up to Thanksgiving. This uptick aligns perfectly with Dr. Patsy McNeil’s expectations.
As the senior vice president of Adventist, Dr. McNeil had anticipated this influx and prepared her team accordingly. A significant part of these preparations is the reinforcement of infection control protocols. In line with recommendations by the Maryland Department of Health, healthcare establishments throughout the state have ramped up their efforts to suppress this dreaded wave of infection, employing a ‘broad facility-wide source control’. This measure, consisting of universal masking, optimizing facility ventilation, and vaccination of all eligible patients and healthcare workers, kicks in when regional weekly hospitalization rates meet or exceed 10 per 100,000 residents.
Even hospitals like University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, already intensely focused on infection prevention and control, are considering further strengthening these measures. Other institutions such as Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center and those operated by LifeBridge Health have started implementing widespread masking mandates for everyone, including patients, visitors, and healthcare staff. Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby has followed suit by requiring masks for the next couple of weeks as well.
Notably, as of the last week of December, respiratory illness hospitalizations have been driven mostly by patients infected with the novel coronavirus and influenza viruses. The hospitalization rate for the respiratory syncytial virus, which presents significant risks to infants and the elderly, appeared to have already peaked earlier in the season. Dr. Gregory Schrank, an epidemiologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center, anticipates a bit more time before the prevalence of influenza and COVID-19 begins to dwindle.
The progression and dynamics of the current respiratory illness season have proven to be less than predictable, given COVID-19’s influence. Still, the overall number of beds currently occupied by COVID-suffering patients is significantly lower than the same time last year. This trend signals the possibility of a slower-paced flu season similar to last year’s early outbreak, rather than a dramatic surge.
However, specific predictions remain difficult at this stage. In these times of uncertainty, the choice to get vaccinated against flu, COVID, and RSV (for older adults and babies) remains critical. Unfortunately, only about a quarter of Marylanders have had their flu shot as of recent state data, with ‘vaccine fatigue’ seemingly hampering the public’s enthusiasm towards inoculation. As health professionals continue to urge coronavirus preventative measures, the adherence to masking mandates and a commitment to vaccines could help ensure more manageable respiratory illness seasons in the future.
Source: https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/01/08/respiratory-season-flu-covid-rsv-hospitals/