COVID-19 Pandemic and its Impact on Craniofacial Surgery

J Craniofac Surg. 2020 Sep;31(6):e620-e622. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000006574.

Abstract

In late 2019, a novel coronavirus strain, SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), also known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), triggered a global pandemic as the virus spread from the Wuhan Province, China, across all continents. Although infrequent, severe respiratory infection and death caused by SARS-CoV-2 is disproportionately high amongst healthcare providers such as craniofacial surgeons who work in the head and neck region. Factors this impact SARS-CoV-2 transmission include: (1) high viral loads in the mucosa of the oral and nasopharynx, (2) limited and/or imprecise disease screening/confirmation testing, (3) access to and appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus* / physiology
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Coronavirus Infections / transmission
  • Face / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Jaw Diseases / surgery*
  • Laryngeal Mucosa / virology
  • Mouth Mucosa / virology
  • Nasal Mucosa / virology
  • Pandemics / prevention & control*
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / transmission
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Viral Load