Shuk-Ching Wong1, Ming Leung2, Danny Wah-Kun Tong2, Larry Lap-Yip Lee3, Will Lok-Hang Leung4, Frank Wan-Kin Chan5, Jonathan Hon-Kwan Chen6, Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung7, Kwok-Yung Yuen8, Deacons Tai-Kong Yeung5, Kin-Lai Chung9, Vincent Chi-Chung Cheng1,6. 1. Infection Control Team, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong West Cluster, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. 2. Nursing Services Department, Cluster Services, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. 3. Department of Accident and Emergency, Tin Shui Wai Hospital, New Territories West Cluster, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. 4. Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, Kowloon West Cluster, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. 5. Cluster Services, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. 6. Department of Microbiology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. 7. Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. 8. Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. 9. Quality & Safety Division, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Extensive environmental contamination by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was reported in hospitals during pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We highlighted the practice of directly-observed environmental disinfection (DOED) in the community isolation facility (CIF) and community treatment facility (CTF) in Hong Kong. METHODS: CIF (250 single-room bungalows in a holiday camp) was opened on July 24, 2020 to receive step-down patients from hospitals, while CTF (500-bed of open-cubicle inside a conventional hall) was activated on August 1, 2020 to admit newly diagnosed COVID-19 patients from the community. Healthcare workers (HCWs) and cleaning staff received infection control training to reinforce donning and doffing of personal protective equipment and understand the practice of DOED, where the cleaning staff observed patients' and staff activities and then performed environmental disinfection immediately after their use. Supervisors also observed cleaning staff to ensure the quality of work. In CTF, air and environmental samples were collected on day 7, 14, 21, and 28 for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR, while patients' compliance of wearing mask was recorded. RESULTS: Of 291 HCWs and 54 cleaning staff, who managed 243 and 674 patients in CIF and CTF, respectively, from July 24 to August 29, 2020, none of them acquired COVID-19. All 24 air samples and 520 environmental samples collected in the patient area of CTF were negative for SARS-CoV-2. Patients' compliance of wearing mask was 100%. CONCLUSION: With appropriate infection control measures, zero environmental contamination and nosocomial acquisition of COVID-19 among HCWs and cleaning staff could be achieved.
BACKGROUND: Extensive environmental contamination by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was reported in hospitals during pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We highlighted the practice of directly-observed environmental disinfection (DOED) in the community isolation facility (CIF) and community treatment facility (CTF) in Hong Kong. METHODS: CIF (250 single-room bungalows in a holiday camp) was opened on July 24, 2020 to receive step-down patients from hospitals, while CTF (500-bed of open-cubicle inside a conventional hall) was activated on August 1, 2020 to admit newly diagnosed COVID-19patients from the community. Healthcare workers (HCWs) and cleaning staff received infection control training to reinforce donning and doffing of personal protective equipment and understand the practice of DOED, where the cleaning staff observed patients' and staff activities and then performed environmental disinfection immediately after their use. Supervisors also observed cleaning staff to ensure the quality of work. In CTF, air and environmental samples were collected on day 7, 14, 21, and 28 for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR, while patients' compliance of wearing mask was recorded. RESULTS: Of 291 HCWs and 54 cleaning staff, who managed 243 and 674 patients in CIF and CTF, respectively, from July 24 to August 29, 2020, none of them acquired COVID-19. All 24 air samples and 520 environmental samples collected in the patient area of CTF were negative for SARS-CoV-2. Patients' compliance of wearing mask was 100%. CONCLUSION: With appropriate infection control measures, zero environmental contamination and nosocomial acquisition of COVID-19 among HCWs and cleaning staff could be achieved.
Authors: Vincent Chi-Chung Cheng; David Christopher Lung; Shuk-Ching Wong; Albert Ka-Wing Au; Qun Wang; Hong Chen; Li Xin; Allen Wing-Ho Chu; Jonathan Daniel Ip; Wan-Mui Chan; Hoi-Wah Tsoi; Herman Tse; Ken Ho-Leung Ng; Mike Yat-Wah Kwan; Shuk-Kwan Chuang; Kelvin Kai-Wang To; Yuguo Li; Kwok-Yung Yuen Journal: J Hazard Mater Date: 2022-02-16 Impact factor: 14.224
Authors: Shuk-Ching Wong; Albert Ka-Wing Au; Hong Chen; Lithia Lai-Ha Yuen; Xin Li; David Christopher Lung; Allen Wing-Ho Chu; Jonathan Daniel Ip; Wan-Mui Chan; Hoi-Wah Tsoi; Kelvin Kai-Wang To; Kwok-Yung Yuen; Vincent Chi-Chung Cheng Journal: Lancet Reg Health West Pac Date: 2021-12-23
Authors: Natasha N Ferreira; Pedro M M Garibaldi; Glenda R Moraes; José C Moura; Taline M Klein; Larissa E Machado; Lilian F B Scofoni; Simone K Haddad; Rodrigo T Calado; Dimas T Covas; Benedito A L Fonseca; Ricardo Palacios; Monica T R P Conde; Marcos C Borges Journal: Public Health Pract (Oxf) Date: 2022-08-05