COVID-19 in long-term care facilities for the elderly: laboratory screening and disease dissemination prevention strategies
Cien Saude Colet. 2020 Sep;25(9):3445-3458.
doi: 10.1590/1413-81232020259.20382020.
Epub 2020 Aug 28.
[Article in
English,
Portuguese]
Affiliations
- 1 Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil, edgarnmoraes@gmail.com.
- 2 Departamento de Propedêutica Complementar, Faculdade de Medicina, UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
- 3 Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
- 4 Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
- 5 Conselho Nacional de Secretários de Saúde, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
- 6 Instituição de Longa Permanência para Idosos Filantrópica Casa Ondina Lobo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Abstract
An infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has unveiled a hitherto hidden reality: the vulnerability of the population living in long-term care facilities for the elderly (LTCF). To date, several scientific publications have revealed a concentration of up to 60% of deaths attributed to COVID-19 in such institutions. Most LTFC residents share the primary risk factors currently associated with increased morbimortality due to the COVID-19 infection. It is crucial to define actions to prevent SARS-CoV-2 spread in this environment, besides the usual measures of social distancing and isolation of the carriers of this disease. This paper proposes strategies for the investigation of this infection in LTCF residents and workers using laboratory tests available in Brazil. The early identification of individuals with SARS-CoV-2, who may actively and continuously spread the virus, allows adopting measures aimed at interrupting the local transmission cycle of this infection.
MeSH terms
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Aged
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Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification
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COVID-19
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COVID-19 Testing
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Clinical Laboratory Techniques*
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Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
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Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
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Coronavirus Infections / mortality
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Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control
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Health Personnel
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Homes for the Aged / statistics & numerical data*
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Humans
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Long-Term Care
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Mass Screening / methods*
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Pandemics / prevention & control
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Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
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Pneumonia, Viral / mortality
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Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control
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SARS-CoV-2
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Vulnerable Populations