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[The contribution of teleconsultation and isolation of symptomatic cases in control of the COVID-19 outbreak a military base].

Authors :
Allonneau A
Villeneuve JP
Sempere H
Couderc A
Nicaise A
Soula M
Kerrien C
Minaberry S
Bertrand M
Mourougou M
Coste S
Source :
Revue d'epidemiologie et de sante publique [Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique] 2021 Aug; Vol. 69 (4), pp. 167-171. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 May 28.
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

Background: The first wave of COVID-19 swept over France during the first quarter of 2020, leading to saturation of the health care system. We wished to study, in a French military medical unit assisting one of the country's largest armed forces populations, the impact of teleconsultation and the systematic isolation of all possible, probable and confirmed cases of COVID-19.<br />Methods: This is a retrospective study carried out from March 9 to May 31, 2020 on the basis of our activity register. The variables collected included type of medical consultation procedure, occupational status, classification of cases and date of onset of first symptoms. We have paralleled our activity with that of SOS Médecins and the emergency departments of the Île-de-France region.<br />Results/discussion: During this period, 1719 episodes of care (teleconsultations or physical consultations) were recorded, of which 91% (n=1561) were linked to COVID-19. We identified 598 "suspected" (possible and probable) and confirmed cases. "Isolated" teleconsultations (not followed by a face-to-face medical consultation, sample taking or necessitating the dispatch of prompt assistance) represented 86% of episodes of care (n=1482). Comparison of our activity and the number of new cases with the databases of SOS Médecins and the Île-de-France emergency services suggests that our isolation strategy was timely and effective.<br />Conclusion: The contribution of teleconsultation was substantial and reassuring. Teleconsultation makes it possible to absorb a large volume of patients, is easy to implement, and entails no nosocomial risk. Isolation of infected patients should be a priority during an outbreak. Once it has become a priority to rapidly bring an epidemic under control, this attitude must be extended to all symptomatic patients.<br /> (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Details

Language :
French
ISSN :
0398-7620
Volume :
69
Issue :
4
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Revue d'epidemiologie et de sante publique
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
34119362
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respe.2021.05.048