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. 2021 Dec;44(6 Suppl 1):S8-S14.
doi: 10.1016/j.bj.2021.10.009. Epub 2021 Oct 26.

Infection control operations of a large hospital in Taiwan to prevent nosocomial outbreaks during COVID-19 pandemic

Chun-Wen Cheng  1 , Po-Yen Huang  1 , Ting-Shu Wu  1 , Chung-Guei Huang  2 , Kuo-Chien Tsao  2 , Chun-Sui Lin  3 , Ting-Ying Chung  3 , Chi-Chun Lai  4 , Cheng-Ta Yang  5 , Cheng-Hsun Chiu  6 ; Infection Control Working Group
Affiliations

Infection control operations of a large hospital in Taiwan to prevent nosocomial outbreaks during COVID-19 pandemic

Chun-Wen Cheng et al. Biomed J. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is highly contagious, with a potential to cause large nosocomial outbreaks in the hospital setting. We report the advance deployment of comprehensive, multi-level infection control measures in a 3,700-bed large hospital to prevent nosocomial outbreaks of COVID-19 during the pandemic.

Methods: We implemented a series of dynamic infection control policies during the pandemic. A confirmed COVID-19 case was defined by positive real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. All healthcare worker (HCW) having symptoms or close contact with the confirmed case received the RT-PCR test.

Results: A total of 5,722 patients were tested in our hospital from January to May 2020. Twenty-five patients were confirmed COVID-19, including two inpatients. A cluster of 4 HCWs with COVID-19 associated with the 2nd inpatient was identified in the early stage of epidemic. Our enhanced traffic control bundling, mask wearing, hand hygiene and environmental cleaning were reinforced after the outbreak. All other confirmed cases were identified at our outdoor quarantine station or epidemic clinic afterwards, and the results of testing for 146 symptomatic HCWs were all negative.

Conclusions: Integrated teamwork, advance deployment of infection control measures and efficient diagnostic testing and response protected HCW and facilities from large SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks and preserved the capacity and function of the health care system during the pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; Hospital; Infection control; Pandemic; SARS-CoV-2.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest All authors report no conflicts of interest relevant to this article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The number of tested cases and number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in CGMH, and key national and hospital infection control measures deployed along the different stages of the epidemic in Taiwan. Abbreviations used: ER: emergency room; HCW: health care worker; TOCC: travel, occupation, contacts, cluster; SOP: standard operation procedure; PPE: personal protective equipment.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Autonomous health management by healthcare workers and consumption of alcohol per month during the pandemic. (A) The percentage of staff daily body temperature and health status report. (B) The monthly hospital alcohol consumption (liters), January 2019 to May 2020.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The monthly incidence density (cases per 1000 patient-days) of healthcare associated infection, healthcare associated blood stream infection and patient-days during Jan, 2019 to Dec, 2020. (A) Whole hospital (B) Intensive Care Unit. Abbreviations used: HAI: healthcare associated infection; HBSI: healthcare associated bloodstream infection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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