Tweet
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol
. 2023 Mar 13;1-5.
doi: 10.1017/ice.2023.34. Online ahead of print.
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
Dylan C Kain 1 , Sandra Isabel 2 , Mariana Abdulnoor 2 3 , Karel Boissinot 4 , Richard De Borja 5 , Amanda Filkin 6 , Bernard Lam 5 , Jason Li 5 , Ilinca Lungu 5 , Liz McCreight 7 , Allison McGeer 2 8 9 , Tony Mazzulli 2 9 , Aimee Paterson 8 , Philip Zuzarte 5 , Felicia Vincelli 5 , Cassandra Bergwerff 5 , Ramzi Fattouh 2 4 10 , Jared T Simpson 5 11 , Jennie Johnstone 2 7 12
Affiliations
- PMID: 36912329
- DOI: 10.1017/ice.2023.34
Abstract
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.