text/xml
1827-675X
2099
en
Silvio Brusaferro
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
ACTA Otorhinolaryngologica Italica
Preface: 
Text.Serial.Journal
https://www.actaitalica.it/
42
Annual congress report
2022-04-26
2022-04-06
2022-04-28
2022-04-28
S1-S2
1
Silvio Brusaferro
2022/04/26
S1
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
1827-675X
S2
Preface: 
https://www.actaitalica.it/article/download/2099/758
42
ACTA OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGICA ITALICA 2022;42(SUPPL.1):S1-S2




108th Congress of the Italian Society of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery - 2022
Official report


Otolaryngologists’ role in the management
of epidemic respiratory human infectious disease
COVID-19
Preface
Il ruolo dello specialista otorinolaringoiatra nella gestione dei pazienti affetti
da COVID-19
Prefazione

I have the pleasure to write this preface in late February 2022, just days after
two years of pandemic in Italy and while the last wave sustained by the omi-
cron variant shows a positive declining trajectory with a transmission rate (Rt)
constantly below the epidemic threshold. This final work of Cesare Miani and
Paolo Petrone in developing the topic of the otorhinolaryngologists’ role in
the management of epidemic respiratory human infectious diseases is very
relevant and summarises current knowledge and evidence in this specific field.
The papers included in this Supplement of Acta Otorhinolaryngologica Italica,
written and presented for the 2022 National Congress of the Italian Society of
Otolaryngology and Cervical-Facial Surgery (SIOeChCf), propose an over-
view of what has been implemented in our healthcare services by otolaryngol-
ogy specialists and more generally by head and neck surgeons at the national
and international level in this difficult period.
The salient points that stand out most to my reading are the ability of special-
ists from this area to quickly adapt their activity according to a new scenario
characterized by strict rules on infection prevention, and provide support to
both patients and colleagues with their specialistic skills.
The papers presented herein, in an interesting mix of original articles and re-
views, take into account the important clinical issues such as the awareness of
all specialists regarding infectious risk, as well as the clinical symptomatol-      Correspondence
ogy, management and treatment of the main COVID-related and non-related              Silvio Brusaferro
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doctor-patient relationship tends to become difficult and sporadic, is widely
emphasized.
                                                                                     © Società Italiana di Otorinolaringoiatria
All these issues fit perfectly with the mission of a universal National Health       e Chirurgia Cervico-Facciale
Service that, even if under heavy stress, continues to guarantee effective an-
swers to the health needs of persons and communities. An element that still                         OPEN ACCESS
distinguishes Italy within the international landscape.                              This is an open access article distributed in accordance with
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If on the one hand the prevention and control of infectious diseases through         Commercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International) license. The
vaccination, surveillance, non-pharmaceutical interventions, monitoring and          article can be used by giving appropriate credit and mentio-
                                                                                     ning the license, but only for non-commercial purposes and
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the basis for resilience and restarting social and health activities, on the other   creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.en




                                                                                                                                               S1
S. Brusaferro




hand it is relevant to mention the role of scientific societies - such as the SIOeChCf with its members – which through their
efforts, have kept together the spirit to be able to treat patients with effectiveness and efficiency starting from more severe
diseases.
Thanks to the quick decrease of the omicron wave, we are now approaching a new phase of the pandemic and our efforts
should be concentrated on guaranteeing full organizational and managerial operation focused on quality and safety and, at
the same time, special attention to equity and to the most fragile part of our population.
The pandemic, and also this report, remind us that it is essential to invest in scientific and technological research, but also to
have the ability to timely translate them into useful tools and services. Our country is rich in all these skills and we should
cooperate together to strengthen and make the coordinated links among all these players systematically.
Vaccination campaigns, population consensus on non-pharmaceutical interventions and effective health service have been
our pillars in managing this pandemic. But we should always remember that all these essential aspects can be successfully
implemented only through qualified and motivated health professionals.
This is the reason why I want to acknowledge and thank all the SIOeChCF members for their competence, passion, and
extraordinary personal efforts in dealing with this pandemic in the last two years.
In the end, we should be grateful to Cesare Miani, Paolo Petrone, and all the authors for making this supplement available
to all of us. I hope it will be welcomed with enthusiasm and further desire to grow by the new generation of otolaryngolo-
gists, both as future clinical managers and as technical experts in the field.

                                                                                                              Silvio Brusaferro
                                                                           President, Italian National Institute of Health (ISS)




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