Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
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Zollner-Schwetz, I; König, E; Krause, R; Pux, C; Laubreiter, L; Schippinger, W.
Analysis of COVID-19 outbreaks in 3 long-term care facilities in Graz, Austria.
Am J Infect Control. 2021; 49(11):1350-1353
Doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2021.08.006
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- Führende Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz
- Zollner-Schwetz Ines
- Co-Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz
- König Elisabeth
- Krause Robert
- Schippinger Walter
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- Abstract:
- BACKGROUND: Nursing homes and long-term care facilities (LTCF) caring for elderly and chronically ill residents are at high risk to experience severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreaks. We report an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in 3 LTCFs of the Geriatric Health Centres of Graz, Austria lasting from March 22 to April 14, 2020. AIM: The objectives of our study were: (1) to elucidate contributing factors and transmission pathways of SARS-CoV-2, (2) to analyze symptoms of COVID-19 in the residents and health care workers. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective outbreak analysis. FINDINGS: Thirty-six of /277 residents of 3 LTCFs were infected with SARS-CoV-2. Only a quarter of COVID-19 cases among residents had fever ≥38.1°C and 19% suffered from cough. Six of 36 residents remained asymptomatic. Hospitalization rate was 58% in residents. Overall, 33% (12/36) residents infected with SARS-CoV-2 died. Nineteen of 214 health care workers were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Universal rt-PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 of all residents and health care workers as well as infection control measures contributed to ending the outbreaks. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed recognition of possible COVID-19 cases due to either mild symptoms or symptoms that were perceived as atypical early in the pandemic contributed to the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in LTCFs. This emphasizes the importance of low-threshold testing in LTCF residents.
- Find related publications in this database (using NLM MeSH Indexing)
- Aged - administration & dosage
- Austria - epidemiology
- COVID-19 - administration & dosage
- Disease Outbreaks - administration & dosage
- Humans - administration & dosage
- Long-Term Care - administration & dosage
- Retrospective Studies - administration & dosage
- SARS-CoV-2 - administration & dosage
- Find related publications in this database (Keywords)
- Nursing home
- Infection control
- SARS-CoV-2
- Elderly