An Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease, 2019 (COVID-19) in a Skilled Nursing Facility - California, 2021: Description, Mitigation, Challenges, and Opportunities

ABSTRACT

Background. Skilled nursing facility (SNF) residents comprised 11% of all COVID-19 cases in the United States;however, they account for 43% of deaths with case fatality rates (CFR) of 26.0-33.7%. Methods. We report an outbreak of COVID-19, from June 15 to July 21, 2020 in a 159-bed SNF with a staff of 172 that resulted in an infection rate of 97% in residents and 23% in HCWs (Figure 1). A retroactive review outlined mitigation efforts, discussed challenges, identified risk factors among residents and health care workers (HCW) for acquisition of COVID-19, and reviewed opportunities for improvement (Figure 2). Results. Factors that contributed to the outbreak delay in test results had an impact on cohorting;suboptimal adherence to the principles of infection prevention and control (IPC) and minimal adherence monitoring;strict criteria were used to screen for infection;the underappreciated transmissibility of COVID-19 from presymptomatic and asymptomatic persons;symptomatic HCWs who continued to work;the changing guidance on, the suboptimal use of, and an inadequate supply of personal protective equipment;poor indoor air quality due to ventilation challenges;and the important role of community/family/interfacility spread on the outbreak. Whole genome sequencing, performed in 52 samples, identified a common strain that was also found in clusters of 2 other facilities 1 in the same geographic location, the other in a different geographic location but whose HCWs had the same zip codes as the facility (Figure 3). Certified nursing and restorative nursing assistants had the highest risk of infection with an odds ratio (OR) of 4.02 (confidence interval 1.29-12.55, p value 0.02) when compared to registered and licensed vocational nurses. The residents' CFR was 24%. The OR for death was increased by 10.5 (10.20-11.00) for every decade of life as was morbid obesity (BMI > 35) with an OR of 8.50. BMI as a continuous variable increased risk of mortality for every additional unit, OR 1.07 (Tables 1, 2). Conclusion. While implementation of optimal IPC measures in the pre-COVID-19 vaccination era had no impact on the infections in residents who were likely already infected or exposed at the onset of the outbreak, these measures along with non-pharmacologic strategies were effective in halting the spread among HCWs.