Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak on an in-patient medical unit associated with unrecognized exposures in common areas—Epidemiological and whole-genome sequencing investigation

Autor: Dylan C. Kain, Sandra Isabel, Mariana Abdulnoor, Karel Boissinot, Richard De Borja, Amanda Filkin, Bernard Lam, Jason Li, Ilinca Lungu, Liz McCreight, Allison McGeer, Tony Mazzulli, Aimee Paterson, Philip Zuzarte, Felicia Vincelli, Cassandra Bergwerff, Ramzi Fattouh, Jared T. Simpson, Jennie Johnstone
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. :1-5
ISSN: 1559-6834
0899-823X
DOI: 10.1017/ice.2023.34
Popis: Objective: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) hospital outbreaks have been common and devastating during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Understanding SARS-CoV-2 transmission in these environments is critical for preventing and managing outbreaks. Design: Outbreak investigation through epidemiological mapping and whole-genome sequencing phylogeny. Setting: Hospital in-patient medical unit outbreak in Toronto, Canada, from November 2020 to January 2021. Participants: The outbreak involved 8 patients and 10 staff and was associated with 3 patient deaths. Results: Patients being cared for in geriatric chairs at the nursing station were at high risk for both acquiring and transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to other patients and staff. Furthermore, given the informal nature of these transmissions, they were not initially recognized, which led to further transmission and missing the opportunity for preventative COVID-19 therapies. Conclusions: During outbreak prevention and management, the risk of informal patient care settings, such as geriatric chairs, should be considered. During high-risk periods or during outbreaks, efforts should be made to care for patients in their rooms when possible.
Databáze: OpenAIRE