Alan S. Kliger, MD: Fighting the Flu and COVID-19

If both the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the seasonal influenza virus are in full swing it could be incredible troubling for medical professionals.

While the shelter-in-place period in the spring of 2020 resulted in most non-emergency medical services being conducted virtually, it was always intended to be a short-term solution.

In nephrology this might be especially concerning because nephrology patients generally are at a higher risk of contracting the virus and facing more severe outcomes due to a compromised immune system.

In an interview with HCPLive®, Alan S. Kliger, MD, a clinical professor of medicine at the Yale University School of Medicine and co-chair of the American Society of Nephrology Covid-19 Response Team, explained it is essential that all nephrologists and accompanying medical personnel do their best to socially distance, wear masks, and get immunized for the flu.

Kliger said because of the delay for part of 2020, there has been a rush for more patients wanting to see nephrology services, meaning that everyone should take even more precautions.

Kliger also said kidney transplants are currently being done as normal, just with more testing and safety measures in place for both the surgeons and the patients.