Prevention of nosocomial COVID-19 infections in a designated hospital for children in Guangzhou, China

ABSTRACT

Background: Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center was chosen as the designated facility for screening, diagnosing, and treating children in Guangzhou with SARS-CoV-2 infection after the COVID-19 outbreak in China. From January 23 to March 20, 2020, the center opened new wards for screening and treatment, taking measures to prevent and control nosocomial infections. This article summarizes and evaluates measures for preventing and controlling nosocomial infections to provide reference information during the pandemic. Methods: The COVID-19 nosocomial infection prevention and control strategies were summarized and analyzed, including the formulation of the hospital partition, the improvement of the hospitalization process, environmental cleaning and disinfection, graded protection based on risk assessment, enhanced training on-site quality control inspection, data monitoring and evaluation, among others, and evaluating the effects by comparing before and after the intervention. Results: There were 159 patients admitted to the screening wards, including 98 males and 61 females, with a median age of 34 years (interquartile range (IQR) 15, 60) months. There were no abnormal findings in these patients and their families during follow-up. During the screening ward opening period, hand hygiene compliance was significantly improved. Fifty staff members in close contact with the contaminated area had tested for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which showed zero infections and no nosocomial infections occurred. Conclusions: For SARS-CoV-2 nosocomial infections, taking the "standard prevention & contact isolation & droplet isolation & air isolation" strategies can prevent patients and staff effectively.