Section of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Section of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Am J Infect Control. 2021 Nov;49(11):1350-1353. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2021.08.006. Epub 2021 Aug 15.
Nursing homes and long-term care facilities (LTCF) caring for elderly and chronically ill residents are at high risk to experience severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreaks. We report an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in 3 LTCFs of the Geriatric Health Centres of Graz, Austria lasting from March 22 to April 14, 2020.
The objectives of our study were: (1) to elucidate contributing factors and transmission pathways of SARS-CoV-2, (2) to analyze symptoms of COVID-19 in the residents and health care workers.
We carried out a retrospective outbreak analysis.
Thirty-six of /277 residents of 3 LTCFs were infected with SARS-CoV-2. Only a quarter of COVID-19 cases among residents had fever ≥38.1°C and 19% suffered from cough. Six of 36 residents remained asymptomatic. Hospitalization rate was 58% in residents. Overall, 33% (12/36) residents infected with SARS-CoV-2 died. Nineteen of 214 health care workers were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Universal rt-PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 of all residents and health care workers as well as infection control measures contributed to ending the outbreaks.
Delayed recognition of possible COVID-19 cases due to either mild symptoms or symptoms that were perceived as atypical early in the pandemic contributed to the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in LTCFs. This emphasizes the importance of low-threshold testing in LTCF residents.
护理院和长期护理机构（LTCF）照顾老年和慢性病患者，面临着发生严重急性呼吸系统综合征冠状病毒 2 型（SARS-CoV-2）暴发的高风险。我们报告了 2020 年 3 月 22 日至 4 月 14 日奥地利格拉茨老年保健中心的 3 家 LTCF 爆发的 2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）。
本研究的目的是：（1）阐明 SARS-CoV-2 的致病因素和传播途径，（2）分析居民和保健工作者的 COVID-19 症状。
我们进行了回顾性暴发分析。
3 家 LTCF 中，277 名居民中有 36 人感染了 SARS-CoV-2。仅有四分之一的 COVID-19 患者有≥38.1°C 的发热，19%的患者有咳嗽。6 名居民无症状。居民住院率为 58%。总的来说，33%（12/36）感染 SARS-CoV-2 的居民死亡。214 名保健工作者中，有 19 人 SARS-CoV-2 检测呈阳性。对所有居民和保健工作者进行普遍的实时聚合酶链反应（rt-PCR）检测 SARS-CoV-2 以及感染控制措施有助于结束暴发。
由于大流行早期症状轻微或被认为是非典型症状，导致可能的 COVID-19 病例的识别延迟，这促成了 LTCF 中 SARS-CoV-2 的传播。这强调了在 LTCF 居民中进行低门槛检测的重要性。
