Prevention and protection measures of healthcare workers exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in a university hospital in Bari, Apulia, Southern Italy.

Authors :: Vimercati L
Dell'Erba A
Migliore G
De Maria L
Caputi A
Quarato M
Stefanizzi P
Cavone D
Ferorelli D
Sponselli S
Mansi F
Tafuri S
Source :: The Journal of hospital infection [J Hosp Infect] 2020 Jul; Vol. 105 (3), pp. 454-458. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 May 20.
Publication Year :: 2020
Abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)-related infection has a major impact on public health, and healthcare workers (HCWs) are exposed to high biological risk. This paper describes the prevention procedures introduced at the University Hospital of Bari, Italy to reduce the risk to HCWs, consisting of enhanced preventive measures and activation of a report system to collect HCWs' contacts. Twenty-three confirmed cases of infection (0.4% of all HCWs) were reported in the 30-day observation period following implementation of the protocol. This shows that correct management of HCWs' contacts is essential to avoid nosocomial clusters.<br /> (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Subjects :: COVID-19
Coronavirus Infections epidemiology
Cross Infection epidemiology
Humans
Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional prevention & control
Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional statistics & numerical data
Italy epidemiology
Pneumonia, Viral epidemiology
SARS-CoV-2
Betacoronavirus
Coronavirus Infections prevention & control
Cross Infection prevention & control
Hospitals, University
Pandemics prevention & control
Personnel, Hospital psychology
Pneumonia, Viral prevention & control

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