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Observational Study
. 2021 Nov;131(11):E2749-E2754.
doi: 10.1002/lary.29667. Epub 2021 Jun 5.

COVID-19 Cross-Infection Rate After Surgical Procedures: Incidence and Outcome

Bassem Mettias  1 , Manish Mair  1 , Peter Conboy  1
Affiliations
Observational Study

COVID-19 Cross-Infection Rate After Surgical Procedures: Incidence and Outcome

Bassem Mettias et al. Laryngoscope. 2021 Nov.

Abstract

Objectives/hypothesis: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) is transmitted by droplet as well as airborne infection. Surgical patients are vulnerable to the infection during their hospital admission. Some surgical procedures are classified as aerosol generating (AGP).

Study design: Retrospective observational study of four specialties associates with known AGP's during the 4 months of the first wave of UK COVID-19 epidermic to identify post-surgical cross-infection with SARSCoV-2 within 14 days of a procedure.

Methods: Retrospective observational study in a tertiary healthcare center of four specialties associates with known AGP's during the 4 months of the first wave of UK COVID-19 epidermic to identify post-surgical cross-infection with SARSCoV-2 within 14 days of a procedure.

Results: There were 3,410 procedures reported during this period. The overall cross-infection rate from tested patients was 1.3% (4 patients), that is, 0.11% of all operations over 4 months. Ear, nose, and throat carried slightly higher rate of infection (0.4%) than gastroenterology (0.08%). The mortality rate was 0.3% (one gastroenterology patient from 304 positive cases) compared to 0% if surgery performed after recovery from SARSCoV-2 and 37.5% when surgery was conducted during the incubation period of the disease. Routine preoperative rapid screening tests and self-isolation are crucial to avoid the risk of cross-infection. Patients with underlying malignancy or receiving chemotherapy were more prone to pulmonary complications and mortality.

Conclusion: The risk of SARS-COV-2 cross-infection after surgical procedure is very low. Preoperative screening and self-isolation together with personal protective measures should be in place to minimize the cross-infection.

Level of evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E2749-E2754, 2021.

Keywords: SARSCoV-2; mortality; outcome; surgery.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Flow chart of patient distribution in the study.
Fig 2
Fig 2
Correlation between hospital and community for admission and mortality.
Fig 3
Fig 3
Correlation between co‐morbidities and outcome.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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