Nosocomial COVID-19 outbreaks in inpatient care facilities: causes and requirements

ABSTRACT

This article identified the source and reason for spread of COVID-19 infection and devise recommendations to halt the progress of infection in a non-COVID area. Results showed that 34 persons were impacted by the outbreak, which lasted from December 19, 2020, to January 12, 2021. Attack frequency was 9.2%. This study determined that inadequacies in infection control procedures, a high bed-to-patient ratio, anomalies in the ventilation system, overcrowding by patient attendants, and a communication gap between nursing officers and doctors were the root causes of the present outbreak. After the last confirmed case, the necessary controls for the outbreak were put in place, and no new instances were recorded for two weeks. SARS-CoV 2 nosocomial outbreaks are a concern in non-COVID hospital settings as well, so it is important to adhere to the same tight infection control procedures there as in COVID areas to stop these outbreaks.