Cheri Constantino-Shor1, Golo Rani2, Svaya Olin3, Charity Holmes4, Keri Nasenbeny5. 1. Cheri Constantino-Shor, MSN, RN, CMSRN, CRNI, University of Washington Medical Center-Northwest Campus, Seattle, WA, USA. 2. Golo Rani, MN, RN, University of Washington Medical Center-Northwest Campus, Seattle, WA, USA. 3. Svaya Olin, RN, CIC, University of Washington Medical Center-Northwest Campus, Seattle, WA, USA. 4. Charity Holmes, MSN, RN-BC, MBA, CNML, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA. 5. Keri Nasenbeny, MHA, BSN, RN, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The first known COVID-19 outbreak in a long-term care facility in the United States was identified on February 28, 2020, in King County, Washington. That facility became the initial U.S. epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic when they discovered 129 cases associated with the outbreak (81 residents, 34 staff members, and 14 visitors) and 23 persons died. The vulnerability of the elderly population, shared living and social spaces, suboptimal infection control practices, and prolonged contact between residents were identified as contributing factors to the rapid spread of the disease. The first known case of a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak in a U.S. inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit was also in King County, Washington, and occurred soon afterward on March 11th, 2020. Between March 11 and March 18, nine inpatients and seven staff members were confirmed to have SARS-CoV-2 infection. This article examines how the swift identification and isolation of confirmed patients, an enhanced infection prevention protocol, and engagement of frontline psychiatric care staff prevented a catastrophic outcome in a vulnerable population. METHODS: Here we describe infection control and nursing-led interventions that were quickly enacted in response to this SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in an inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit. RESULTS: The interventions effectively contained the outbreak, with no further patients and only one staff member testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 over the subsequent 2-month time period. CONCLUSIONS: We share our learnings and preventative infection control measures that can be adapted to a variety of settings to prevent or contain future outbreaks of COVID-19.
OBJECTIVES: The first known COVID-19 outbreak in a long-term care facility in the United States was identified on February 28, 2020, in King County, Washington. That facility became the initial U.S. epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic when they discovered 129 cases associated with the outbreak (81 residents, 34 staff members, and 14 visitors) and 23 personsdied. The vulnerability of the elderly population, shared living and social spaces, suboptimal infection control practices, and prolonged contact between residents were identified as contributing factors to the rapid spread of the disease. The first known case of a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak in a U.S. inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit was also in King County, Washington, and occurred soon afterward on March 11th, 2020. Between March 11 and March 18, nine inpatients and seven staff members were confirmed to have SARS-CoV-2 infection. This article examines how the swift identification and isolation of confirmed patients, an enhanced infection prevention protocol, and engagement of frontline psychiatric care staff prevented a catastrophic outcome in a vulnerable population. METHODS: Here we describe infection control and nursing-led interventions that were quickly enacted in response to this SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in an inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit. RESULTS: The interventions effectively contained the outbreak, with no further patients and only one staff member testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 over the subsequent 2-month time period. CONCLUSIONS: We share our learnings and preventative infection control measures that can be adapted to a variety of settings to prevent or contain future outbreaks of COVID-19.
Authors: Jan M Stratil; Renke L Biallas; Jacob Burns; Laura Arnold; Karin Geffert; Angela M Kunzler; Ina Monsef; Julia Stadelmaier; Katharina Wabnitz; Tim Litwin; Clemens Kreutz; Anna Helen Boger; Saskia Lindner; Ben Verboom; Stephan Voss; Ani Movsisyan Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2021-09-15
Authors: Kathy Y Liu; Anita Kulatilake; Chris Kalafatis; Gareth Smith; Jacob D King; Jordi Serra-Mestres; Lauren Huzzey; Nicola Ng; Pooja Kandangwa; Thomas Elliott; Andrew Sommerlad; Louise Marston; Gill Livingston Journal: BJPsych Open Date: 2022-03-08
Authors: Famke Houben; Mitch van Hensbergen; Casper D J den Heijer; Nicole H T M Dukers-Muijrers; Christian J P A Hoebe Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2022-03-11 Impact factor: 3.090