Analysis of COVID-19 outbreaks in 3 long-term care facilities in Graz, Austria - 22/10/21
, Elisabeth König, MD, PhD a, Robert Krause, MD a, Christian Pux b, Lisa Laubreiter b, Walter Schippinger, MD b
Bienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
Article gratuit.
Connectez-vous pour en bénéficier!
Highlights |
• | SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in three LTCFs affecting residents and staff in March 2020 |
• | Atypical presentation of COVID-19 in elderly residents of LTCFs common |
• | Delayed recognition of COVID-19 led to the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in LTCFs |
• | Mortality among residents 33% |
Résumé |
Background |
Nursing homes and long-term care facilities (LTCF) caring for elderly and chronically ill residents are at high risk to experience severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreaks. We report an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in 3 LTCFs of the Geriatric Health Centres of Graz, Austria lasting from March 22 to April 14, 2020.
Aim |
The objectives of our study were: (1) to elucidate contributing factors and transmission pathways of SARS-CoV-2, (2) to analyze symptoms of COVID-19 in the residents and health care workers.
Methods |
We carried out a retrospective outbreak analysis.
Findings |
Thirty-six of /277 residents of 3 LTCFs were infected with SARS-CoV-2. Only a quarter of COVID-19 cases among residents had fever ≥38.1°C and 19% suffered from cough. Six of 36 residents remained asymptomatic. Hospitalization rate was 58% in residents. Overall, 33% (12/36) residents infected with SARS-CoV-2 died. Nineteen of 214 health care workers were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Universal rt-PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 of all residents and health care workers as well as infection control measures contributed to ending the outbreaks.
Conclusions |
Delayed recognition of possible COVID-19 cases due to either mild symptoms or symptoms that were perceived as atypical early in the pandemic contributed to the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in LTCFs. This emphasizes the importance of low-threshold testing in LTCF residents.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Key Words : Nursing home, Infection control, SARS-CoV-2, Elderly
Plan
| Conflicts of interest: All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to declare. |
|
| Author contributions: Conceptualization, I.ZS. and W.S.; methodology, P.C. and E.K.; formal analysis, P.C.; data curation, L.L.; writing—original draft preparation, I.ZS and E.K.; writing—review and editing, R.K. and W.S. |
Vol 49 - N° 11
P. 1350-1353 - novembre 2021 Retour au numéro
Article précédent
- When planning meets reality: COVID-19 interpandemic survey of Michigan Nursing Homes
- Karen Jones, Julia Mantey, Laraine Washer, Jennifer Meddings, Payal K. Patel, Ana Montoya, John P. Mills, Kristen Gibson, Lona Mody
- A retrospective comparison of guidelines to assess hospital-diagnosed urinary tract infection in nursing home residents
- Denise L. Cooper, Roxanne Buterakos, Laura M. Wagner, Jenny Tith, Shoou-Yih D. Lee
Bienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.