Brescia-COVID Respiratory Severity Scale (BCRSS)/Algorithm
Step-wise management approach to COVID-19 patients based on clinical severity as of June 2, 2020.
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Launched during COVID-19 crisis. Not externally validated. Use with caution; this is being used in Italy for assessment, trending, and treatment recommendations.
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This algorithm is a step-wise approach to managing patients with confirmed/presumed COVID-19 pneumonia.
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If not intubated, follow management and then each 4 testing criteria should be repeated to assess for improvement or deterioration. Repetition frequency based on clinical judgment to downgrade/upgrade score.
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Not only is the management important; the numerical score is used to easily compare and summarize patients to treating clinicians.
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NIV concerning for aerosolization; included in score due to ventilator scarcity in Italy.
Result:
The Brescia-COVID group is a collaboration of infectious disease and critical care physicians in Brescia, Italy (in the Lombardy region of Italy) who developed this scale together while caring for patients in their hospital.
- Andrea Duca, MD