Ruf Sebastian, Hommes Franziska, van Loon Welmoed, Seybold Joachim, Kurth Tobias, Mall Marcus A, Mockenhaupt Frank P, Theuring Stefanie
Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
Medical Directorate, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Dec 21;19(1):36. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19010036.
While SARS-CoV-2 infection activity in German kindergartens during the first year of the pandemic appeared to be overall low, outbreaks did occur. We retrospectively investigated an outbreak in November and December 2020 in a Berlin kindergarten participating in the Berlin Corona School and Kindergarten Study (BECOSS). Interviews were conducted with affected families regarding symptomatology, contact persons and possible sources of infection, as well as relevant information on the conditions on-site and infection prevention measures. A chronology of the outbreak was elaborated, and based on data on contacts and symptoms, we mapped the most likely chains of infection. Overall, 24 individuals, including ten educators, seven children, and seven household members, were infected with SARS-CoV-2 in a four-week time interval. Courses of infection ranged from asymptomatic to severe, with children less affected by symptoms. Viral spread within the facility seemed to occur mainly through kindergarten staff, while children primarily transmitted infections within their families. Interviewees reported that hygiene measures were not always adhered to inside the facility. To prevent outbreaks in kindergartens, especially in the light of current and newly emerging viral variants of concern, strict compliance to hygiene rules, staff vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2, and immediate reaction to suspected cases by quarantining and frequent testing seem reasonable measures.
在新冠疫情的第一年，德国幼儿园中的SARS-CoV-2感染活动总体似乎较低，但疫情仍有发生。我们回顾性调查了2020年11月和12月在柏林一所参与柏林新冠学校和幼儿园研究（BECOSS）的幼儿园爆发的疫情。对受影响家庭进行了访谈，了解症状、接触者和可能的感染源，以及现场情况和感染预防措施的相关信息。详细梳理了疫情的时间线，并根据接触和症状数据绘制了最可能的感染链。在四周的时间间隔内，共有24人感染了SARS-CoV-2，其中包括10名教育工作者、7名儿童和7名家成员。感染过程从无症状到严重不等，儿童受症状影响较小。病毒在幼儿园内的传播似乎主要通过幼儿园工作人员，而儿童主要在家庭内部传播感染。受访者报告称，幼儿园内并非始终遵守卫生措施。为防止幼儿园爆发疫情，尤其是考虑到当前和新出现的令人担忧的病毒变种，严格遵守卫生规则、工作人员接种SARS-CoV-2疫苗，以及对疑似病例通过隔离和频繁检测立即做出反应，似乎是合理的措施。
