Rapid response infrastructure for pandemic preparedness in a tertiary care hospital: lessons learned from the COVID-19 outbreak in Cologne, Germany, February to March 2020

Max Augustin^{1

2

3

4}, Philipp Schommers^{1

2

4

5}, Isabelle Suárez^{1

2

4}, Philipp Koehler^{1

3

6}, Henning Gruell^{2

5}, Florian Klein^{2

3

5}, Christian Maurer⁷, Petra Langerbeins⁷, Vanessa Priesner¹, Kirsten Schmidt-Hellerau¹, Jakob J Malin^{1

2

3}, Melanie Stecher^{1

2}, Norma Jung¹, Gerhard Wiesmüller⁸, Arne Meissner⁹, Janine Zweigner⁹, Georg Langebartels¹⁰, Felix Kolibay¹⁰, Victor Suárez¹¹, Volker Burst¹¹, Philippe Valentin¹¹, Dirk Schedler¹², Oliver A Cornely^{1

2

3

6}, Michael Hallek^{3

7}, Gerd Fätkenheuer^{1

2}, Jan Rybniker^{1

2

3

4}, Clara Lehmann^{1

2

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ University of Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Cologne, Germany.
² German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
³ University of Cologne, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
⁴ These authors contributed equally to this article.
⁵ Institute of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
⁶ Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Department I of Internal Medicine, Clinical Trials Centre Cologne (ZKS Köln), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
⁷ Department I of Internal Medicine and Center of Integrated Oncology Aachen, Bonn, Köln, Düsseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
⁸ Public Health Department Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
⁹ Department of Hospital Hygiene and Infection Control, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
¹⁰ Department for Clinical Affairs, University of Cologne, Germany.
¹¹ Department II of Internal Medicine (Nephrology, Rheumatology, Diabetes, and General Internal Medicine) and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
¹² University of Cologne, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Cologne, Germany.

PMID: 32489176
PMCID: PMC7268272
DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.21.2000531

Rapid response infrastructure for pandemic preparedness in a tertiary care hospital: lessons learned from the COVID-19 outbreak in Cologne, Germany, February to March 2020

Max Augustin et al. Euro Surveill. 2020 May.

. 2020 May;25(21):2000531.

doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.21.2000531.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ University of Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Cologne, Germany.
² German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
³ University of Cologne, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
⁴ These authors contributed equally to this article.
⁵ Institute of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
⁶ Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Department I of Internal Medicine, Clinical Trials Centre Cologne (ZKS Köln), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
⁷ Department I of Internal Medicine and Center of Integrated Oncology Aachen, Bonn, Köln, Düsseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
⁸ Public Health Department Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
⁹ Department of Hospital Hygiene and Infection Control, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
¹⁰ Department for Clinical Affairs, University of Cologne, Germany.
¹¹ Department II of Internal Medicine (Nephrology, Rheumatology, Diabetes, and General Internal Medicine) and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
¹² University of Cologne, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Cologne, Germany.

PMID: 32489176
PMCID: PMC7268272
DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.21.2000531

Abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has caused tremendous pressure on hospital infrastructures such as emergency rooms (ER) and outpatient departments. To avoid malfunctioning of critical services because of large numbers of potentially infected patients seeking consultation, we established a COVID-19 rapid response infrastructure (CRRI), which instantly restored ER functionality. The CRRI was also used for testing of hospital personnel, provided epidemiological data and was a highly effective response to increasing numbers of suspected COVID-19 cases.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; outbreak; pandemic preparedness; risk assessment.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Figures

**Figure 1**
COVID-19 rapid response infrastructure at University Hospital Cologne, North Rhine Westphalia, Germany, February 2020

**Figure 2**
Consultations (A) and tested patients (B) at the COVID-19 rapid response infrastructure at University Hospital Cologne, North Rhine Westphalia, Germany, 27 February–12 March 2020

**Figure 3**
Early extension of risk areas at the COVID-19 rapid response infrastructure, University Hospital Cologne, Germany, February 2020

See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

Letter to the editor: Wide indication for SARS-CoV-2-testing allowed identification of international risk areas during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.
Rexroth U, Hamouda O, Hanefeld J, Ruehe B, Wieler LH, Schaade L. Rexroth U, et al. Euro Surveill. 2020 Jun;25(23):2001119. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.23.2001119. Euro Surveill. 2020. PMID: 32553063 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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Rapid response infrastructure for pandemic preparedness in a tertiary care hospital: lessons learned from the COVID-19 outbreak in Cologne, Germany, February to March 2020

Affiliations

Rapid response infrastructure for pandemic preparedness in a tertiary care hospital: lessons learned from the COVID-19 outbreak in Cologne, Germany, February to March 2020

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Figures

Comment in

References

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Miscellaneous