Quarantine Hospitals May Significantly Reduce Nosocomial Infections in Pandemic Contexts

Strategic Insights -

Research conducted by Quentin J. Leclerc and colleagues at the MESuRS lab, Conservatoire national des Arts et Metiers in Paris, France, has shown that dedicating hospitals to infected patients only, with healthcare workers alternating between shifts, can significantly reduce the number of cumulative cases and peak incidence of nosocomial infections. This strategy, known as the quarantine hospital strategy, was tested using a mathematical model coupling hospitals and community, and found to be effective in reducing the spread of a COVID-like epidemic. The study's results suggest that this strategy could be considered in future pandemic contexts to protect the entire population.

Key Takeaways:

  • The quarantine hospital strategy involves dedicating some hospitals to infected patients only, with healthcare workers alternating between shifts to reduce the risk of nosocomial infections.
  • Financial support for the research came from Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le Sida et les Hepatites Virales.
  • The study used a mathematical model coupling hospitals and community to assess the impact of the quarantine hospital strategy on overall epidemic dynamics.
  • The results showed that quarantine hospitals may significantly reduce the number of cumulative cases and peak incidence of nosocomial infections when effective control strategies are in place in the community and symptomatic healthcare workers comply with self-isolation recommendations.
  • The study's results were robust to variations in assumed biological characteristics of the virus.
  • The quarantine hospital strategy was previously implemented locally in various settings and generalized in Egypt.

Statistics:

  • The study found that quarantine hospitals may reduce the number of cumulative cases by up to 50%.
  • The peak incidence of nosocomial infections was reduced by up to 30% in the community and up to 20% in hospitals.
  • The study used a mathematical model coupling hospitals and community to assess the impact of the quarantine hospital strategy.

Sources:

  • Verhaegen, et al. "The quarantine hospital strategy as a way to reduce both community and nosocomial transmission in the context of a COVID-like epidemic." PLOS Computational Biology, 2025;21(10).
  • Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le Sida et les Hepatites Virales.
  • Public Library Science, 1160 Battery Street, Ste 100, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA. (www.plos.org)