Challenge and strategies of infection control in psychiatric hospitals during biological disasters-From SARS to COVID-19 in Taiwan.
Asian J Psychiatr
; 54: 102270, 2020 Dec.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-622314
ABSTRACT
Psychiatric hospitals play an important role in supporting patients with mental illness to relieve symptoms and improve functioning in a physically and psychologically safe environment. However, these hospitals are also vulnerable to emerging infectious diseases. In early 2020, a psychiatric hospital and a psychiatric unit were reported to have nosocomial coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. A large number of patients and staff were severely impacted. This type of nosocomial infection threatens patient safety and quality of care. By learning from previous experiences of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and previous studies, psychiatric hospitals can provide safeguards to prevent nosocomial infection among patients and staff during an epidemic or biological disaster. These strategies include a series of actions such as following national guidelines for infection control, reserving adequate support for disinfection equipment, providing relevant and sufficient pro-service and in-service education and training, establishing regular surveillance of hand hygiene habits, proper communication and health education, and providing opportunities for vaccination if possible. Based on the harm reduction concept, staff division of office breaks and ward classification and shunting are recommended and should be further implemented.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Infection Control
/
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
/
COVID-19
/
Hospitals, Psychiatric
Type of study:
Qualitative research
Topics:
Vaccines
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Asian J Psychiatr
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.ajp.2020.102270
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