Measures for preventing nosocomial infection with SARS-CoV-2 in hematology departments

Excerpt

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) [1]. SARS-CoV-2 infection has spread all over the world and has resulted in 1,436,198 confirmed cases of infection and 85,522 deaths as of 9 April 2020 [2]. This condition poses an urgent public health issue in the world [3]. No specific treatment or vaccine is available against this virus [4]. Hence, a classic but effective method to stop the propagation is by cutting the spread chain by using personal protective equipment and limiting personal contact [5]. The incubation period of COVID-19 is 1–14 days, mostly 3–7 days, and its main manifestations include fever, dry cough, and fatigue. COVID-19 is transmitted person-to-person through respiratory droplets and close contact [6, 7]. Fragile patients such as patients with cancer and elderly persons comprise the frequently infected population with severe symptoms, such as dyspnea and/or hypoxemia, 1 week after the onset of the disease, and the prognosis is very poor [8]. Hence, more attention should be paid in coping with patients having blood diseases. Moreover, these patients usually develop infection other than COVID-19 with manifestation of fever because of immunodeficiency and/or myelosuppression after many cycles of chemotherapy [9]. COVID-19 infection should be distinguished from other microbiological infections for patients in hematology. Considering the COVID-19 exacerbation, the consequences are extremely serious for these fragile patients. Hence, potentially infected patients with COVID-19 should be identified quickly and isolated early [10]. Furthermore, health personnel should be protected from infection to provide the best possible medical services for patients and evaluate the outbreak risk in hospital [11]. Therefore, the prevention and control strategies for nosocomial infection in the hematology department should be discussed to prevent COVID-19 infection and severe consequences. In the present study, we shared our experience from the past 2 months in the hematological department and suggest preventive actions for the future. …