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Coronaviruses

COVID-19 Outbreak in Wuhan, China: Transmission and Infection Control Challenges

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Current study results on COVID-19 have highlighted the rapid spread of the virus and its transmission from human to human, causing significant challenges to infection control in medical institutions. According to researchers at Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, the outbreak brought a large number of trauma emergency tasks to the hospital, necessitating the establishment of a graded prevention and control guidance of surgery. The study concluded that through the risk assessment of surgical patients and adopting surgical grading control measures, the risk of SARS-CoV-2 spread during the surgical process can be greatly reduced.

Key Takeaways:

  • The COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China spread rapidly across the world, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a pandemic.
  • COVID-19 can be transmitted from human to human and cause nosocomial infection, posing significant challenges to infection control in medical institutions.
  • The study cited prescreening and preoperative risk assessment, preparation of operating room, medical staff protection, and environmental disinfection measures as essential surgical prevention measures.
  • A total of 4720 operations were performed in Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from January 20 to March 5, 2020, with 1565 emergency operations and 22 for medium-risk and high-risk patients who may have had the 2019 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.
  • Medical staff protection was prioritized during the implementation of protective measures, and there were no reported cases of medical staff exposed to SARS-CoV-2.
  • The study highlights the importance of risk assessment and grading control measures in reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 spread during the surgical process.

Statistics:

  • 4720 operations were performed in Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from January 20 to March 5, 2020.
  • Among these operations, 1565 were emergency operations and 22 were performed on medium-risk and high-risk patients who may have had SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • There were no reported cases of medical staff exposed to SARS-CoV-2 during the implementation of protective measures.
  • The study concluded that through risk assessment and grading control measures, the risk of SARS-CoV-2 spread during the surgical process can be greatly reduced.

Sources:

  • Practice and exploration of infection prevention and control measures based on risk management of surgical patients during the epidemic of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). American Journal of Infection Control, 2020;
  • Beijing Jishuitan Hospital. (August 2020). Researchers at Beijing Jishuitan Hospital Target COVID-19 [Practice and exploration of infection prevention and control measures based on risk management of surgical patients during the epidemic of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)]. Respiratory Therapeutics Week. August 3, 2020; p 578.

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