PGI develops protocol for SARI patients

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 7

The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, has developed a protocol for suffering with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI).

“Any patient coming with severe acute respiratory infection should be screened for the Covid-19 according to the Covid-19 guidelines. We would be having difficulty in screening the patients with no travel or contact history. So we have established Severe Acute Respiratory Infection ward (SARI ward) which we would admit the patients according to PGI-SARI Scoring Scale (PGI-SSS) and test for common etiology of acute viral pneumonia,” reads the protocol.

The SARI scoring scale is based on the parameters including fever, SOB, SpO2 less than 95%, cough, high risk (patients with 60 above age, pregnancy, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung disorders, steroid use).

If the SARI scale count is above five, then the patient will be admitted and will be tested for H1N1 and the Covid-19 and if tested positive will be admitted in exclusive Covid facility.

If the scale is between two and four, the chest X-ray will be conducted based on which the patient will be suggested for Covid testing and if the count is one or below the patient will be evaluated for the other cardiorespiratory diseases.

There are four patients in SARI ward of PGIMER. Besides, a total of 12 Covid-19 positive patients are admitted in NHE. Out of which three are admitted in ICU.