Features of the Course of COVID-19 in Health Care Workers of a Non-in-fectious Hospital

Background: Health Care Workers (HCWs) are at high risk of SARS-COV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease, not only in the chain of care for COVID-19 patients but also in non-infectious health care organizations that provide routine medical care to the population. Objective: To analyze features of the course of COVID-19 in HCWs of a non-infectious hospital (non-IH). Methods and Materials: A retrospective analysis of COVID-19 cases of HCWs of a non-infectious hospital (non-IH) due to a local outbreak during the "second wave" of the pandemic, despite the use of PPE. Results: 7 HCWs out of 23 employees were infected and had a confirmed COVID-19 infection. All pointed to the presence of contact at work (patients, colleagues) as the main possible contamination factor. The development of COVID-pneumonia was observed in 4 persons;2 of them were hospitalized. The most common symptoms were fever with a maximum temperature rise of 37.8-39 degrees C, weakness, chest pain, cough, and loss of smell. The duration of the persistence of symptoms of the disease was up to 16 days. The elimination of coronavirus in most patients was noted after the 10th day. Conclusion: HCWs in non-IH providing routine medical care are at increased risk of contracting COVID-19 due to contact with infected patients or colleagues. The development of COVID-19 disease in HCWs leads to long-term disability, which creates tension in the work of non-IH. To reduce the risk of infection for non-IH HCWs, stated precautions are necessary: strict adherence to PPE use, mandatory testing of SARS-COV-2, and planning observational wards for unexamined patients hospitalized for medical care for other indications.

Organization of a Hospital Ward Aimed at Admitting Patients with SARS-CoV-2: An Economic and Epidemiological Perspective.

The SARS-CoV-2 epidemic requires dynamic action on the part of the entire health care system to provide infected patients whose condition requires hospitalization with access to appropriate medical care and infrastructure, including oxygen devices and ventilators. The demand for specialized inpatient care has increased rapidly and in many areas exceeds the resources available to date. Individual hospitals must make investment and organizational decisions to increase their capacity to handle patients with SARS-CoV-2. The aim of the article is to present the organizational and investment steps taken to establish and maintain an infectious hospital ward as well as the clinical and financial consequences of this decision. The study was conducted in a hospital ward that was launched at the end of October 2020 to care for patients with SARS-CoV-2. A case study method was used. The department was characterized taking into account its importance for: (1) the regional level of health coverage of the population, (2) the organization of the hospital's activities, (3) the financial and economic situation of the hospital.

[Emergency laboratory construction and reflection in infectious hospital under the epidemic situation].

Emerging infectious diseases are a common type of public health emergencies, which occur frequently around the world in recent years, seriously threatening the safety of human life and property. In the process of dealing with epidemic situation, medical laboratories have played an important role in disease diagnosis, treatment, efficacy evaluation and prognosis judgment and so on. Beijing Youan Hospital, as the designated hospital of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has set up an emergency laboratory in the capital for the prevention and control of the COVID-19 by carrying out routine tests and virus nucleic acid tests, it provides timely and effective evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment. To provide ideas and references for the building of the Emergency Laboratory in infectious hospitals. This article discuss how to set up an independent emergency laboratory efficiently, strengthen the cooperation with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, make the best use of all resources, and share the enlightenment gained in the process of construction.

Transformation of a large multi-speciality hospital into a dedicated COVID-19 centre during the coronavirus pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: The article describes the process of converting a large multi-specialized hospital into one dedicated to COVID-19 patients, and present established standards of work organization in all the wards and training system of the medical and supporting staff. The several weeks pandemic of the COVID-19 disease has forced the healthcare systems of numerous countries to adjust their resources to the care of the growing number of COVID-19 patients. Managers were presented with the challenge of protecting the healthcare workers from transmission of the disease within medical institutions, and issues concerning the physical and psychological depletion of personnel. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Based on analyses of the structure and work processes in Central Clinical Hospital (CCH) reconstructive strategic plan was developed. It included: division of existing wards into observation and isolation wards; installing locks; weekly plan for supplying personal protection equipment (PPE); designating new access to the hospital and communication routes; training of medical and supporting staff. The plan was implemented from the first days of conversion of the hospital. RESULTS: The wards of the CCH were converted for observation and isolation, and each one was fitted with sanitary locks. There was a big improvement in the supply of PPE for the medical staff. Separation of the 'dirty' and 'clean' parts of the CCH were attained, and widespread intensive training not only protected personnel against infections, but also diminished unrest which was discernable at the beginning of conversion. CONCLUSIONS: The transformation efforts will ultimately be appraised at the end of the epidemic, but the data looks encouraging. Two weeks after conversion, the testing of hospital Staff was started and by the end of April, 459 tests were had been conducted, of which only 11 were positive.