Infection control operations of a large hospital in Taiwan to prevent nosocomial outbreaks during COVID-19 pandemic

Chun-Wen Cheng; Po-Yen Huang; Ting-Shu Wu; Chung-Guei Huang; Kuo-Chien Tsao; Chun-Sui Lin; Ting-Ying Chung; Chi-Chun Lai; Cheng-Ta Yang; Cheng-Hsun Chiu; Infection Control Working Group

doi:10.1016/j.bj.2021.10.009

Infection control operations of a large hospital in Taiwan to prevent nosocomial outbreaks during COVID-19 pandemic

Biomed J. 2021 Dec;44(6 Suppl 1):S8-S14. doi: 10.1016/j.bj.2021.10.009. Epub 2021 Oct 26.

Affiliations

¹ Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Infection Control Committee, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
² Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Research Center for Emerging Viral Infections, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
³ Infection Control Committee, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
⁴ Infection Control Committee, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Departments of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Thoracic Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
⁶ Infection Control Committee, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Molecular Infectious Disease Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Electronic address: chchiu@adm.cgmh.org.tw.

Abstract

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is highly contagious, with a potential to cause large nosocomial outbreaks in the hospital setting. We report the advance deployment of comprehensive, multi-level infection control measures in a 3,700-bed large hospital to prevent nosocomial outbreaks of COVID-19 during the pandemic.

Methods: We implemented a series of dynamic infection control policies during the pandemic. A confirmed COVID-19 case was defined by positive real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. All healthcare worker (HCW) having symptoms or close contact with the confirmed case received the RT-PCR test.

Results: A total of 5,722 patients were tested in our hospital from January to May 2020. Twenty-five patients were confirmed COVID-19, including two inpatients. A cluster of 4 HCWs with COVID-19 associated with the 2nd inpatient was identified in the early stage of epidemic. Our enhanced traffic control bundling, mask wearing, hand hygiene and environmental cleaning were reinforced after the outbreak. All other confirmed cases were identified at our outdoor quarantine station or epidemic clinic afterwards, and the results of testing for 146 symptomatic HCWs were all negative.

Conclusions: Integrated teamwork, advance deployment of infection control measures and efficient diagnostic testing and response protected HCW and facilities from large SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks and preserved the capacity and function of the health care system during the pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; Hospital; Infection control; Pandemic; SARS-CoV-2.

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / epidemiology
Cross Infection* / prevention & control
Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control
Hospitals
Humans
Infection Control / methods
Pandemics / prevention & control
SARS-CoV-2
Taiwan / epidemiology