During the past few days, there’s been a significant increase in COVID-19 cases globally. Because it’s a new virus, people have little or no immunity to it, so it continues to spread. In this interview with Collette Hendler, RN, MS, MA, CIC, Editor-in-Chief for Lippincott Solutions and Certified Infection Preventionist, we discuss who is at the highest risk for severe illness and complications. Also, many in healthcare and the public are becoming familiar with the phrase, “flatten the curve.” We discuss what this phrase means and strategies to best educate patients and the public.

*Note: this podcast was recorded on March 19, 2020. For the most up to date information, please visit our Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource page, where you’ll find links to the CDC and WHO, plus free access to our point-of-care tools and more.

Nurses are on the frontlines caring for patients with possible and confirmed cases of coronavirus, or COVID-19. Listen to this interview with Betsy Todd, MPH, RN, Nurse Epidemiologist and Clinical Editor for American Journal of Nursing, and Lisa Bonsall, Clinical Editor for Lippincott NursingCenter, to learn important facts that nurses need to know, specifically when it comes to infection control and prevention. They review the basics about categories of isolation precautions, discuss current recommendations, and review teaching points for the public. Details of the virus and its transmission are changing quickly, so please remember to stay up to date on recommendations and rely on reputable sources – identified during this podcast – for information.

*Note: this podcast was recorded on March 6, 2020. For the most up to date information, please visit our Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource page, where you’ll find links to the CDC and WHO, plus free access to our point-of-care tools and more.

In healthy patients, most fluids are confined in three spaces of the body: the intravascular space (in the blood vessels), the intracellular space (in the cells), or the interstitial spaces. The interstitial spaces are the small spaces between cells that are not contained within blood vessels. In normal situations, fluid moves between all three spaces to maintain fluid balance. Third-spacing occurs when too much fluid moves from the intravascular space into the interstitial or “third” space.

Reference:
Holcomb, S. (2009). Topics in Progressive Care: Third-Spacing: When Body Fluids Shifts. Nursing in Critical Care, 4(2). doi: 10.1097/01.NURSE.0000325345.22694.44