Abstract
Introduction: The objective of this study is to investigate the COVID-19 outbreak and its successful containment in a long-term care facility, Qatar.Materials and Methods: It was a retrospective case series of 24 COVID-19 positive patients inclusive of elderly, patient attenders, and front-liners from 06th to 18th June 2020. Laboratory, radiological, and treatment findings were assessed from electronic records.Results: The outbreak management team concluded that despite all the pre-existing preventive measures implemented at the start of the pandemic, there was still evidence of lapses in infection control practices such as breach of infection control protocols like improper use of personal protective equipment. The infection prevention and control team promptly reassessed and implemented more stringent infection control methods and practices that successfully contained the outbreak on July 1, 2020. Among the seven elderly patients, the average age was 76.28 years ± SD25.5 and all were females. 57% of the patients were symptomatic. The most common comorbidities were Dementia (57%), Diabetes mellitus (43%), Coronary Artery Disease (43%), and Seizures (43%). Ground glass appearances in the lungs were found in 29% of the patients. Among the three deceased patients, Dementia and Coronary Artery Disease were the common comorbidities. Persistent elevation in blood glucose levels was observed among all patients during this period of infection.Conclusion: Elderlies in long-term care facilities are with certain pre-existing comorbidities which makes them more prone to develop COVID-19 complications. Thus, intensive infection control measures like ongoing education and awareness, staff compliance monitoring, quick contact tracing, visitor policy revision, ongoing patient and caregivers monitoring are inevitable recommendations for effective outbreak prevention and management.
Highlights
The objective of this study is to investigate the COVID-19 outbreak and its successful containment in a long-term care facility, Qatar
Scientific evidence has shown that there is an increase in mortality of Covid-19 patients who are aged more than 50 years [4]
The outbreak investigation described in this report was conducted in ENAYA long-term care facility in Qatar
Summary
The objective of this study is to investigate the COVID-19 outbreak and its successful containment in a long-term care facility, Qatar. The worldwide spread of the Coronavirus was caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) [1]. A combination of pharmacologic and nonpharmacological interventions is required to contain its spread. The virus has had devastating effects on the vulnerable group of our society—people who are 65 years or older—and have pre-existing health conditions [3]. Many health conditions that are associated with aging, especially non-communicable diseases such as autoimmune diseases, cancers, heart disease, and metabolic diseases, combined with treatments for these diseases and with immune senescence, substantially affect responses to vaccines and infectious diseases [4]. Scientific evidence has shown that there is an increase in mortality of Covid-19 patients who are aged more than 50 years [4]
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