Impact of SARS-CoV2 on a Center for Mechanical Ventilation Weaning and Rehabilitation / Impacto del SARS-CoV2 en un Centro de desvinculación de la ventilación mecánica y rehabilitación

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Since December 2019, the SARS-CoV2 virus has propagated throughout the world at great speed. Multiple studies describe its behavior in Intensive Care Units, but there is little information about its impact on a Critical Care Recovery Center (CCRC). Objective: To show if the use of a contingency protocol could reduce virus dissemination among patients hospitalized in a CCRC. Materials and Methods: Observational, retrospective, cross-sectional study. The study included patients older than 18 years on respiratory isolation for being a suspected case of SARS-CoV2, or close contact of a confirmed case or for their admission to theinstitution, during May 2020.The values were expressed as median and interquartile range or frequency and percentage, according to the variable. The differences between positive and negative SARS-CoV2 cases were evaluated with the median test and the Fisher' s Exact Test. Results: During the study period, 30 patients were placed in respiratory isolation (53% suspected cases, 13% close contact and 34% admission to the institution). 5 of them tested positive for SARS-CoV2, with a median of 61 years (18-71), mostly males (4/5), 80% tracheostomized and 33% with invasive mechanical ventilatory assistance. One patient died from complications associated withSARS-CoV2. No significant differences were found in the number of positive cases according to the isolation cause (p = 0.37) or the clinicaldemographic characteristics between positive and negative cases. Conclusion: The use of a contingency protocol for patients potentially infected with SARS-CoV2 in a CCRC could reduce the virus dissemination inside the institution.