ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) has imposed a new reality that presents several challenges for healthcare professionals. The main challenge has been the lack of proper training in relation to an unknown disease. OBJECTIVE: To investigate healthcare professionals’ acquisition of knowledge of a new airway management protocol for COVID-19 through their participation in simulation training. DESIGN AND SETTING: Pre and post-test study with purpose sampling, carried out in a tertiary-level hospital in the city of Campinas, state of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional pre and post-test intervention among healthcare professionals working in the intensive care unit and emergency department of a large hospital. The training was carried out using an in situ simulation scenario and the participants answered pre and post-tests consisting of a 20-item questionnaire about the new protocol. RESULTS: The paired-sample t test demonstrated that there was a significant increase in test score (t = −19.06; P < 0.001), from before the training (M = 8.62; standard deviation, SD = 3.53) to after the simulation training (M = 17.02; SD = 1.76). CONCLUSIONS: The simulated training had a positive impact on the healthcare professionals’ acquisition of the COVID-19 protocol. We also demonstrated that in situ simulation training was an efficient tool for implementing new protocols, thus bringing benefits to healthcare systems, professionals and patients.

A síndrome da eosinofilia-mialgia foi descrita em 1989 em pacientes que apresentavam mialgia progressiva e incapacitante e eosinofilia sérica, nos líquidos e secreções. A maioria dos pacientes relatava uso prévio de L-triptofano. Sintomas respiratórios são relatados em até 80% dos casos, eventualmente como manifestação única. O tratamento inclui suspensão da droga e corticoterapia. Relatamos o caso de uma mulher de 61 anos com insuficiência respiratória aguda após uso de L-triptofano, hidroxitriptofano e outras drogas. A paciente apresentava eosinofilia no sangue, lavado broncoalveolar e derrame pleural. Após a suspensão da medicação e corticoterapia, houve melhora clínica e radiológica em poucos dias.

Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome was described in 1989 in patients who presented progressive and incapacitating myalgia and eosinophilia in blood, fluids and secretions. Most patients report previous L-tryptophan intake. Respiratory manifestations are found in up to 80% of the cases, occasionally as the only manifestation. Treatment includes drug discontinuation and administration of corticosteroids. Here, we describe the case of a 61-year-old female admitted with acute respiratory failure after using L-tryptophan, hydroxytryptophan and other drugs. The patient presented eosinophilia, together with elevated eosinophil counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage and pleural effusion. After discontinuation of the drugs previously used, corticosteroids were administered, resulting in clinical and radiological improvement within just a few days.