Int J Med Sci 2021; 18(10):2146-2154. doi:10.7150/ijms.53270 This issue Cite

Research Paper

Nosocomial Infection Outbreak due to SARS-COV-2 in a Hospital Unit of Particularly Vulnerable Patients

Rocío Seijo Bestilleiro1,2, Diana Martinez Señaris2, María José Pereira Rodríguez3, Rita Galeiras Vázquez4, Raquel García Rodríguez3, María Teresa García Rodriguez1, Cristina González Martín1,5✉, María Teresa Seoane Pillado1,5, Vanesa Balboa Barreiro1,5, Valentín Valdés Valiña2, Sonia Pértega Díaz1,5

1. Research group in Nursing and Health Care, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña (CHUAC), Sergas, Universidade da Coruña, A Coruña, Spain.
2. Haematology and Haemotherapy Department, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña (CHUAC), Sergas, A Coruña, Spain.
3. Preventive Medicine Department, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña (CHUAC), Sergas, A Coruña, Spain.
4. Intensive Care Unit, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña (CHUAC), Sergas, A Coruña, Spain.
5. Research group in Rheumatology and Health, Universidade da Coruña, A Coruña, Spain.

Citation:
Bestilleiro RS, Señaris DM, Rodríguez MJP, Vázquez RG, Rodríguez RG, Rodriguez MTG, Martín CG, Pillado MTS, Barreiro VB, Valiña VV, Díaz SP. Nosocomial Infection Outbreak due to SARS-COV-2 in a Hospital Unit of Particularly Vulnerable Patients. Int J Med Sci 2021; 18(10):2146-2154. doi:10.7150/ijms.53270. https://www.medsci.org/v18p2146.htm
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Abstract

Graphic abstract

Objectives: To report a COVID-19 outbreak among workers and inpatients at a medical ward for especially vulnerable patients.

Methods: Descriptive study of a nosocomial COVID-19 outbreak registered in March-April 2020 at medical ward of onco-hematological patients in an Spanish hospital. Confirmed cases were hospitalized patients, healthcare and non-healthcare workers who tested positive by PCR on a nasopharyngeal swab.

Results: Twenty-two COVID-19 cases (12 workers and 10 inpatients) were laboratory-confirmed. Initial cases were a healthcare provider and a visitor who tested positive. The median patients age was 73 years (range 62-88). The main reason of admission was haematological in 8 patients and oncologic in 2. All patients followed an immunosuppressive treatment, 5/10 with high-flow oxygen nebulizations. Five patients presented a moderate/serious evolution, and 5 patients died. The mean workers age was 42.1±10.9. One healthworker required Intensive Care Unit admission, and all of them recovered completely.

Conclusions: In the hospital setting, close patients surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 is essential, especially in immunosuppressed patients. Replacing nebulizations or high-flow oxygen therapies, when other equivalent options were available, to reduce dispersion, and controlling ventilation ducts, together with hygiene measures and an active follow-up on inpatients, visitors and workers appear to be important in preventing nosocomial outbreaks.

Keywords: COVID-19, Coronavirus Infections, Disease outbreaks, Health personnel, Infectious Disesase Transmission, Patient-to-Professional, Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient.


Citation styles

APA
Bestilleiro, R.S., Señaris, D.M., Rodríguez, M.J.P., Vázquez, R.G., Rodríguez, R.G., Rodriguez, M.T.G., Martín, C.G., Pillado, M.T.S., Barreiro, V.B., Valiña, V.V., Díaz, S.P. (2021). Nosocomial Infection Outbreak due to SARS-COV-2 in a Hospital Unit of Particularly Vulnerable Patients. International Journal of Medical Sciences, 18(10), 2146-2154. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijms.53270.

ACS
Bestilleiro, R.S.; Señaris, D.M.; Rodríguez, M.J.P.; Vázquez, R.G.; Rodríguez, R.G.; Rodriguez, M.T.G.; Martín, C.G.; Pillado, M.T.S.; Barreiro, V.B.; Valiña, V.V.; Díaz, S.P. Nosocomial Infection Outbreak due to SARS-COV-2 in a Hospital Unit of Particularly Vulnerable Patients. Int. J. Med. Sci. 2021, 18 (10), 2146-2154. DOI: 10.7150/ijms.53270.

NLM
Bestilleiro RS, Señaris DM, Rodríguez MJP, Vázquez RG, Rodríguez RG, Rodriguez MTG, Martín CG, Pillado MTS, Barreiro VB, Valiña VV, Díaz SP. Nosocomial Infection Outbreak due to SARS-COV-2 in a Hospital Unit of Particularly Vulnerable Patients. Int J Med Sci 2021; 18(10):2146-2154. doi:10.7150/ijms.53270. https://www.medsci.org/v18p2146.htm

CSE
Bestilleiro RS, Señaris DM, Rodríguez MJP, Vázquez RG, Rodríguez RG, Rodriguez MTG, Martín CG, Pillado MTS, Barreiro VB, Valiña VV, Díaz SP. 2021. Nosocomial Infection Outbreak due to SARS-COV-2 in a Hospital Unit of Particularly Vulnerable Patients. Int J Med Sci. 18(10):2146-2154.

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