Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Objectives
Telemedicine can compensate for the lack of health care specialists in response to protracted humanitarian crises. We sought to assess the usability of a teleclinical microbiology (TCM) program to provide diagnostic services in a hard-to-reach region of Syria.Methods
A semimobile station was equipped with conventional micrograph and macrograph digital imaging systems. An electronic platform (Telemicrobiology in Humanitarian Crises, TmHC) was created to facilitate sharing, interpreting, and storing the results. A pilot study was conducted to identify the bacterial species and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of 74 urinary clinical isolates. An experience survey was conducted to capture the feedback of 8 participants in the program.Results
The TmHC platform (https://sdh.ngo/tmhc/) enabled systematic transmission of the laboratory records and co-interpretation of the results. The isolates were identified as Escherichia coli (n = 61), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 12), and Proteus mirabilis(n = 1). All the isolates were multidrug resistant. The performance of our TCM module was rated 4 (satisfying) and 5 (very satisfying) by 6 and 2 users, respectively. Data security of and cost-effectiveness were the main perceived concerns.Conclusions
Although we encountered several context-related obstacles, our TCM program managed to reach a highly vulnerable population of 4 million people confined in the northwest region of Syria.
SUBMITTER: Karah N
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8973258 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Karah Nabil N Antypas Konstantinos K Al-Toutanji Anas A Suveyd Usama U Rafei Rayane R Haraoui Louis-Patrick LP Elamin Wael W Hamze Monzer M Abbara Aula A Rhoads Daniel D DD Pantanowitz Liron L Uhlin Bernt Eric BE
American journal of clinical pathology 20220401 4
<h4>Objectives</h4>Telemedicine can compensate for the lack of health care specialists in response to protracted humanitarian crises. We sought to assess the usability of a teleclinical microbiology (TCM) program to provide diagnostic services in a hard-to-reach region of Syria.<h4>Methods</h4>A semimobile station was equipped with conventional micrograph and macrograph digital imaging systems. An electronic platform (Telemicrobiology in Humanitarian Crises, TmHC) was created to facilitate shari ...[more]