Abstract:This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, a… Show more
“… Screening for symptoms and known exposures is a moderately effective intervention with well-understood limitations 23 , but which can still contribute positively as one component of an overall facility strategy. A lack of candor about symptoms and/or exposure 20 , 24 is just one of several reasons for screening failures. Recognizing this, no changes were made to the entrance patient screening process but treating staff remained diligent in asking patients about new symptoms and testing accordingly.…”
“… Screening for symptoms and known exposures is a moderately effective intervention with well-understood limitations 23 , but which can still contribute positively as one component of an overall facility strategy. A lack of candor about symptoms and/or exposure 20 , 24 is just one of several reasons for screening failures. Recognizing this, no changes were made to the entrance patient screening process but treating staff remained diligent in asking patients about new symptoms and testing accordingly.…”
“…Screening for symptoms and known exposures is a moderately effective intervention with well-understood limitations [20], but which can still contribute positively as one component of an overall facility strategy. A lack of candor about symptoms and/or exposure [17,21] is just one of several reasons for screening failures. Recognizing this, no changes were made to the entrance patient screening process but treating staff remained diligent in asking patients about new symptoms and testing accordingly.…”
Background: While dialysis patients are at greater risk of serious SARS-CoV-2 complications, stringent infection prevention measures can help mitigate the risk of infection and transmission within dialysis facilities. We describe an outbreak of 14 cases diagnosed in a 13-day period between May and June of 2021 in a hospital-based ESRD facility, and our coordinated use of epidemiology, viral genome sequencing, and infection control practices to quickly end the cycle of transmission.
Methods: Symptomatic patients and staff members were diagnosed via RT-PCR tests. Facility-wide screening was conducted using rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests. SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences were obtained from residual diagnostic PCR specimens.
Results: Of the 106 patients who received dialysis in the facility, 10 were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection, as was one patient support person. Of three positive staff members, two were unvaccinated and had provided care for six and four of the affected patients, respectively. Sequencing demonstrated that all the cases in the cluster shared an identical B.1.1.7./Alpha substrain. Attack rates were greatest among unvaccinated patients and staff. Vaccine effectiveness was 88% among patients.
Conclusions: Prompt recognition of an infection cluster and rapid intervention efforts successfully ended the outbreak. Alongside consistent adherence to core infection prevention measures, vaccination was highly effective in reducing disease incidence and morbidity in this vulnerable population.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.