Abstract
To the best of our knowledge, here, we describe the first hospital-wide outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 that occurred in Germany in April 2020. We aim to share our experience in order to facilitate the management of nosocomial COVID-19 outbreaks in healthcare facilities. All patients and hospital workers were screened for SARS-CoV-2 repeatedly. An infection control team on the side was installed. Strict spatial separation of patients and intensified hygiene training of healthcare workers (HCW) were initiated. By the time of reporting, 26 patients and 21 hospital workers were infected with a cluster of cases in the geriatric department. Fourteen patients developed COVID-19 consistent symptoms and five patients with severe pre-existing medical conditions died. The outbreak was successfully contained after intensified infection control measures were implemented and no further cases among patients were detected over a period of 14 days. Strict application of standard infection control measures proved to be successful in the management of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks.
Highlights
Since the beginning of the novel coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19), inadvertent exposure of hospitalized patients and healthcare workers (HCW) to severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been a major concern [1]
Our report provides a narrative description of a nosocomial COVID-19 outbreak
We present the infection control measures implemented to contain the outbreak and describe potential sources of the outbreak
Summary
Since the beginning of the novel coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19), inadvertent exposure of hospitalized patients and HCW to severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been a major concern [1]. Steffen Höring and René Fussen contributed to this work. Our report provides a narrative description of a nosocomial COVID-19 outbreak. We present the infection control measures implemented to contain the outbreak and describe potential sources of the outbreak
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