Nosocomial SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in urology departments: Results of a prospective multicentric study

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the coronavirus disease 2019 perioperative infection rate and mortality rate of patients undergoing urological surgeries during the early pandemic period in Spain. Methods This was a non‐interventional multicenter prospective study carried out from 9 March to 3 May 2020 in two urology departments in Madrid, Spain. Clinical, microbiological and radiological data of patients who underwent surgery were collected from computerized medical records. Results A total of 148 patients were included in the study, and 141 were analyzed for nosocomial infection risk, after excluding previous and concomitant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 infections. Elective surgeries represented 76.6% of the procedures, whereas emergent surgeries represented 23.4%. Preoperative screening was carried out with polymerase chain reaction test in 34 patients, all were negative. A total of 14 patients also had chest X‐ray (not suspicious in all cases). Three patients (2.1%) developed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 nosocomial infection (symptoms developed between the third day after surgery to the 14th day after hospital discharge). Time from admission to a compatible clinical case was 5.5 days (4–12 days). Two patients underwent surgery with concomitant diagnosis of coronavirus disease. The mortality rate due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 infection is 0.7%, and the specific mortality rate in patients undergoing surgery with community‐acquired coronavirus disease 2019 infection was 50% (1/2). Conclusions The nosocomial severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 infection rate was low in patients undergoing urological surgical procedures during the peak of the pandemic in Madrid. With appropriate perioperative screening, urological surgical activity can be carried out in safety conditions.

Editorial Comment to Nosocomial SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in urology departments: Results of a prospective multicentric study

“…Recently, a large observational study including the analysis 9149 patients supported the findings of Sánchez et al ., 4 showing that hospital‐acquired SARS‐CoV‐2 infection is rare when proper infection control measures are implemented 5 . Similarly, Carter et al .…”

“…Interestingly, the authors stated that postoperative COVID‐19 infections do not seem to impact the hospitalization period or the need for postoperative intensive care. Furthermore, the authors showed a high mortality rate (50%) among patients undergoing surgery in the presence of preoperative SARS‐CoV‐2 infection 4 …”

“…Sánchez et al . presented an interesting analysis of the nosocomial infection rate of COVID‐19 in two urological departments in Spain 4 . Overall, 148 patients underwent urological surgeries during the study period, of which, seven patients with either a past history of or preoperatively diagnosed COVID‐19 infection were excluded, leaving 141 patients for the final statistical analysis of the nosocomial infection rate.…”

Healthcare-associated COVID-19 in England: A national data linkage study

“…There is a growing international literature on nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infection, from single ward or department reports, [15] , [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] to hospital-wide studies, [24] , [25] , [26] but only one (from Malta) based on limited national surveillance data. 27 The lull between phases of the pandemic in Europe has allowed prospective studies to be planned, but these have yet to report.…”

Evaluation of Treatment Results of Urolithiasis Complications Among Covid-19 Patients

“…Цифры летальности после выполнения срочных урологических операций в условиях пандемии новой коронавирусной инфекции составляют 25,6%, а у пациентов с осложненным течением МКБ достигают 50% [8,9]. В данной работе летальность среди пациентов с осложнениями МКБ, которые были пролечены в условиях неинфекционной многопрофильной больницы, имела место в 1 (0,9%), а в условиях инфекционных отделений -в 9 (30%) наблюдениях.…”