Patch Testing During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Recommendations of the AEDV's Spanish Contact Dermatitis and Skin Allergy Research Group (GEIDAC)

Abstract

As the COVID-19 pandemic gradually comes under control, the members of the Spanish Contact Dermatitis and Skin Allergy Research Group (GEIDAC) have drawn up a proposed list of the requirements, limitations, and conditioning factors affecting the resumption of work in contact dermatitis units. The assumption is that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is still circulating and that occasional or seasonal outbreaks will occur. They recommend that the first step should be to assess how many patch tests each clinic can handle and review the waiting list to prioritize cases according to disease severity and urgency. Digital technologies can, where possible, be used to send and receive the documentation necessary for the patch test (information, instructions, informed consent, etc.). If the necessary infrastructure is available, patients can be offered the option of a remote initial consultation. Likewise, in selected cases, the patch test results can be read in a virtual visit using photographs taken by the patient or a video visit can be scheduled to allow the physician to evaluate the site of application remotely. These measures will reduce the number of face-to-face visits required, but will not affect the time spent on each case, which must be scheduled in the normal manner. All of these recommendations are suggestions and should be adapted to the needs and possibilities of each health centre.

Value of photo assessment in late patch test readings—A multicenter study from six European patch test clinics

“…During the present coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, the demand for successful digital substitutions that are able to replace physical attendance in dermatological clinics provides a new perspective of our study 17,18 . Telemedicine is already widely used within dermatology, and diagnoses based on photos as compared to clinical assessments have been shown to be acceptable from a dermatological as well as technical perspective, 19,20 and the use of self‐forwarded photos has already been suggested for other dermatological diseases 21,22 …”

Clinical Dermatology and COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Most of the hospitals have suspended patch testing (PE); however virtual reading of patch tests is being encouraged. Spanish Research Group on Contact Dermatitis and Skin Allergy (GEIDAC) of the Academia Espanola De Dermatologia Y Venereologia (AEDV), has proposed certain recommendations regarding PE during the COVID-19 pandemic[ 18 ]:…”

Estado De Humor E Nível De Atividade Física De Professores Universitários Durante a Pandemia Da Covid-19

“…A corrupção é uma prática desviante institucionalizada responsável pelo (CARRASCOSA et al, 2020;CARRIÓN et al, 2020;FRAILE et al, 2020;ROLDÁN-GÓMEZ et al, 2020) A partir do exposto, pretende-se analisar e discutir as implicações das tecnologias digitais voltadas ao teleatendimento, quando utilizadas como estratégia de combate à pandemia da COVID-19 e como mecanismo de melhoria do sistema de saúde brasileiro.…”