Healthcare (Basel) . Strategies for the Prevention of the Intra-Hospital Transmission of COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study

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Healthcare (Basel)


. 2020 Jul 3;8(3):E195.
doi: 10.3390/healthcare8030195.
Strategies for the Prevention of the Intra-Hospital Transmission of COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study


Min Cheol Chang ¹ , Jian Hur ² , Donghwi Park ³



Affiliations

• PMID: 32635290
• DOI: 10.3390/healthcare8030195

Abstract

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread rapidly worldwide. We aimed to review the strategies used by our university hospital in Daegu (South Korea) to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 within our institution. We also investigated the actual situation at our hospital against the recommended guidelines. We conducted a survey among patients and staff in our hospital. Additionally, patients' electronic medical records were reviewed along with closed-circuit television (CCTV) recordings. Various strategies and guidelines developed by our hospital have been implemented. A total of 303 hospital staff and patients had exposure to 29 confirmed COVID-19 patients. Of them, three tested positive for COVID-19 without further transmission. The intra-hospital infection of the disease occurred when the recommended strategies and guidelines such as wearing a mask and isolating for 2 weeks were not followed. In conclusion, the implementation of robust guidelines for preventing the intra-hospital transmission of COVID-19 is essential.

Keywords: COVID-19; hospital infection; isolation; mask; secondary infection.