Infectologist Eduardo López has been infected with the Manaus variant of the Covid and tells how he is

Ricardo Gutiérrez Children’s Hospital. Friday April 16 A nurse, who came to work with a fever, self-tamponades and is tested positive. They alert their close contacts and activate protocols. A few days later, they started to get infected among the health workers. In total, they reach 25, of which 24 were immunized with two doses of Sputnik V. One of them is the infectologist Eduardo López, head of the medical department of this health center, member of the committee of experts who advises the president and regular source of this columnist on the issues of Covid 19. Today, already recovered, he shares his experience with Bugle. “I started with a stuffy nose and muscle pain. I did the rapid test and a PCR. Both confirmed the diagnosis. The result did not scare me, although I was concerned about the evolution, ”explains López.

“After the first case, a doctor from the pediatric infectology residence tested positive. A specialist from my team followed him and the fourth was me, ”explains López. It was Thursday, April 21, when he started with symptoms. He took the test in the Gutiérrez infectology area and went straight home. “To the 40 minutes the result of the quick method has arrived: detectable“, He adds.

So far, López, who is 75, had not been infected. A long time ago, he finished his vaccination schedule with Sputnik V, just like his wife. Today, he assures that without these two doses, his experience with the coronavirus would have been much worse. “I have no doubts, because of my age and because my sample was analyzed and I was infected with the variant of Manau“, need.

Gutiérrez’s virology laboratory, headed by Dr Alicia Michensko, was in charge of genomic sequencing of confirmed cases among healthcare workers.

The explanation that López finds for the series of infections is the high transmissibility of this variant. “In the hospital, I wear a mask all the time and the windows are open. My office is on the second floor and Unit 9 is on the first. The vast majority of infections have occurred in these two sectors through which various professionals circulate, ”notes the pediatric infectologist.

From this episode, he draws several conclusions. “On the one hand, that the Manaus variant is very contagious and, on the other hand, that one can be infected even if one is vaccinated”, explains López and asks to highlight another information: “On the 25 infected, no need for hospitalization or oxygen. It talks about the effectiveness of the vaccine with both doses against serious illnesses, which, in short, is the most important thing ”.

In Unit 9, there are pediatric patients who are immunocompromised due to their underlying pathologies. This makes them considered to be at high risk if they contract Covid 19. However, none of them were infected. “It shows the care that healthcare workers take for their patients and, at the same time, the speed and speed with which the protocols were followed,” López continues.

About his painting, he says he is not afraid but worried about how it will evolve. “I was with telephone follow-up From an Osde doctor, Dr Heredia, he treated me very well, ”he adds.

Always well saturated

He was handled with an oximeter and a thermometer. He has always sat well at 97/98 (it has to be done at 96 or higher) and he says he has followed all the control tips he shares with this medium since the start of the pandemic. “Among them, the chair test. That is, sit and stand for a minute and only after that measure the saturation to see how much it gives in motion, ”he comments.

He didn’t have a fever. Only nasal congestion, dysphonia and muscle pain. He has also lost his sense of smell, although he says he has already recovered.

He spent 10 days in isolation. During this time, he did not share a room or bathroom with Ada, his wife. She was not infected. “Fortunately, he had two negative samples,” López adds.

“On the 14th day after the symptoms started, I went back to work. The rest of the team also came back. It was a scare but everything is fine. I feel perfect like the rest of my teammates”, concludes- he.

PS