General Practitioners' Practice premises and Risk of Viral Cross-Transmission: A French Observational Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND

The common areas of general practitioners' practices (eg, reception, secretariat, waiting room, toilets) are places at risk of cross-transmission of viral diseases such as COVID-19, however risk is poorly documented.

AIM

To evaluate the risks of viral cross-transmission in general practitioners' practices based on the organization of the common areas of the premises.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Cross-sectional multicenter observational study in randomly selected general practitioners' practices in a French department (Seine-Maritime). The practices were included in 4 strata (1, 2, 3-5, or ≥6 general practitioners).

METHOD

Each practice was visited and a questionnaire describing practice organization, cleaning of the premises, screening of high-risk patients was completed on site and observation of the premises).

RESULTS

Data collection started in December 2019 and was discontinued due to the national lockdown related to the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Eighty-two practices were analyzed. A hydroalcoholic solution was available in 7.3% of practices and surgical masks in 1.2%. In a majority of waiting rooms, the minimum distance between chairs facing each other was >2 m (78.0%), but was more frequently 1 m for chairs at 90° (53.7%). Overall, 79.3% of waiting rooms could be properly ventilated and waste bins were present in 23.9% of cases. A cleaning protocol was reported in 39.2% of practices.

CONCLUSION

The COVID-19 epidemic allowed the national dissemination of standard precautions. It will be interesting to monitor over the next few years whether the renewed consideration of standard precautions to prevent viral cross-contamination will be maintained over time.