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First Reported Nosocomial Outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in a Pediatric Dialysis Unit.
Schwierzeck, Vera; König, Jens Christian; Kühn, Joachim; Mellmann, Alexander; Correa-Martínez, Carlos Luis; Omran, Heymut; Konrad, Martin; Kaiser, Thomas; Kampmeier, Stefanie.
Afiliação
  • Schwierzeck V; Institute of Hygiene, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
  • König JC; Department of General Pediatrics, University Children's Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
  • Kühn J; KfH Kidney Center for Children and Adolescents, Münster, Germany.
  • Mellmann A; Institute of Virology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
  • Correa-Martínez CL; Institute of Hygiene, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
  • Omran H; Institute of Hygiene, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
  • Konrad M; Department of General Pediatrics, University Children's Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
  • Kaiser T; Department of General Pediatrics, University Children's Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
  • Kampmeier S; KfH Kidney Center for Children and Adolescents, Münster, Germany.
Clin Infect Dis ; 72(2): 265-270, 2021 01 27.
Article em En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33501962
BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a life-threatening respiratory condition caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and was initially detected in China in December 2019. Currently, in Germany >140 000 cases of COVID-19 are confirmed. Here we report a nosocomial outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the pediatric dialysis unit of the University Hospital Münster (UHM). METHODS: Single-step real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) from nasopharyngeal swabs was used to diagnose the index patient and identify infected contacts. Epidemiological links were analyzed by patient interviews and medical record reviews. In addition, each contact was assessed for exposure to the index case and monitored for clinical symptoms. Cycle threshold (Ct) values of all positive test results were compared between symptomatic and asymptomatic cases. RESULTS: Forty-eight cases were involved in this nosocomial outbreak. Nine contact cases developed laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infections. Two SARS-CoV-2-positive cases remained clinically asymptomatic. Eleven cases reported flulike symptoms without positive results. Ct values were significantly lower in cases presenting typical COVID-19 symptoms, suggesting high viral shedding (P = .007). CONCLUSIONS: Person-to-person transmission was at the heart of a hospital outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 between healthcare workers (HCWs) and patients in the pediatric dialysis unit at UHM. Semiquantitative rRT-PCR results suggest that individuals with high viral load pose a risk to spread SARS-CoV-2 in the hospital setting. Our epidemiological observation highlights the need to develop strategies to trace and monitor SARS-CoV-2-infected HCWs to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks in the hospital setting.
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Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Base de dados: MEDLINE Limite: Child / Humans País/Região como assunto: Asia / Europa Idioma: En Ano de publicação: 2021 Tipo de documento: Article

Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Base de dados: MEDLINE Limite: Child / Humans País/Região como assunto: Asia / Europa Idioma: En Ano de publicação: 2021 Tipo de documento: Article