ABSTRACT
The highly contagious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Omicron variant increases risk for nosocomial transmission despite universal masking, admission testing, and symptom screening. We report large increases in hospital-onset infections and 2 unit-based clusters. The clusters rapidly abated after instituting universal N95 respirators and daily testing. Broader use of these strategies may prevent nosocomial transmissions.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Cross Infection , COVID-19/prevention & control , Cross Infection/prevention & control , Hospitals , Humans , N95 Respirators , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
We prospectively assessed 536 hospitalized patients with positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction tests for infectiousness based on symptoms, cycle thresholds, and SARS-CoV-2 history, with repeat testing and serologies in select cases. One hundred forty-eight (28%) patients were deemed noninfectious, most with evidence of prior infection, and managed on standard precautions without evidence of transmission.