The Da Nang Lung Hospital, for the time being, is the only medical facility in the city to treat COVID-19 imported cases in accordance to the local health sector's guidance. In addition to this important task, the hospital’s staff is still focusing on ensuring the treatment of other respiratory diseases, especially tuberculosis. Ensuring the ultimate safety of the staff and patients, especially avoiding cross-contamination, and completing other professional tasks are identified as top priorities.

Doctor examines a patient with tuberculosis at the Da Nang Lung Hospital

Guaranteeing treatment of respiratory diseases

More recently, a senior resident in the neighbouring province of Quang Nam has been admitted to the Da Nang Lung Hospital for the treatment of his sudden chest pain and hoarseness and swallowing pain.

Immediately after medical consultation, the patient was diagnosed with pleural effusion, a dangerous complication of tuberculosis. This is a typical patient of pulmonary tuberculosis, if not promptly admitted to a specialised hospital for treatment, his life it would face fatal danger.

After 5 weeks of treatment, the patient has been lifted out of a critical condition, and he is showing signs of encouraging recovery.

Currently, 100 patients with respiratory diseases, mainly tuberculosis, are being treated at the hospital. Doctor Le Thanh Phuc, the hospital’s Director, pointed out to the fact that, the treatment of tuberculosis, especially multiple drug resistance, in Da Nang still showcases many hidden risks.

“Despite being assigned to offer the treatment to coronavirus-infected patients, we are still maintaining the main professional responsibility in treating those with other infectious respiratory diseases. In fact, the number of non-COVID-19 patients, in recent times, has showed no sign of subsiding. If not treated promptly with the right regimen and medications, their lives would be, of course, fatally threatened, and potential outbreaks could occur in the community”, said doctor Phuc.

Currently, the hospital features two separate treatment areas, namely one for COVID-19 patients, and the other for those catching other diseases.

In the normal treatment area, after admission, all patients are required to test for COVID-19 and wear facemasks during treatment. In addition, 100% of the medical staffers strictly follow mask rules when in contact.

Strengthening treatment of COVID-19 patients

Given a large number of Vietnamese citizens flying home from abroad, the number of post-entry COVID-19 infection cases has also gone up. 

Only within the first two weeks of April, 22 COVID-19 patients were put under treatment at a 25-room dedicated area with a total of 50 beds.

All visits, examinations, contacts and treatment must comply with the mandatory regulations of the Ministry of Health on COVID-19 prevention and control.

In its efforts to improve efficiency in the diagnostic process, the hospital is promoting the Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 test, a rapid, real-time RT-PCR test intended for the qualitative detection of nucleic acid from the SARS-CoV-2 in upper respiratory specimens.

“The advantage of this approach is to identify a patient catching COVID-19 in duration of 45 - 60 minutes after sampling, while the conventional method takes 4 - 6 hours. Shortening the screening time helps this medical establishment to be more proactive in early zoning off and eliminating the risk of coronavirus infection to the community”, said doctor Phuc.

According to doctor Ngo Thi Kim Yen, Director of the municipal Department of Health, ensuring COVID-19 prevention remains a top priority task the hospital must fulfill. Each COVID-19 patient treatment team consists of 12 medical workers who take turns on duty. After each treatment session, the medical staff must be quarantined for monitoring their health status at designated hotels in the city for 14 days in line with the national regulations.

“The local healthcare sector will use more manpower from other medical facilities to support the Da Nang Lung Hospital. The highest priority is still to treat COVID-19 patients, in tandem with ensuring safety and preventing patient overload and cross-contamination”, said Yen.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG- Translating by A.T