Isolation precautions cause minor delays in diagnostics and treatment of non-COVID patients.

COVID-19 Isolation precaution Non-COVID-19 Patient outcome Treatment delay

Journal

Infection prevention in practice
ISSN: 2590-0889
Titre abrégé: Infect Prev Pract
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101777928

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
Dec 2021
Historique:
received: 06 04 2021
accepted: 29 09 2021
pubmed: 14 10 2021
medline: 14 10 2021
entrez: 13 10 2021
Statut: ppublish

Résumé

Isolation precautions are essential prevent spread of COVID-19 infection but may have a negative impact on inpatient care. The impact of these measures on non-COVID-19 patients remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate diagnostic and treatment delays related to isolation precautions, the associated patient outcome, and the predisposing risk factors for delays. This observational study was conducted in seven Helsinki region hospitals during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland. The study used data on all non-COVID-19 inpatients, who were initially isolated due to suspected COVID-19, to estimate whether isolation precautions resulted in diagnostic or treatment delays. Out of 683 non-COVID-19 patients, 33 (4.8%) had delays related to isolation precautions. Clinical condition deteriorated non-fatally in seven (1.0%) patients. The following events were associated with an increased risk of treatment or a diagnostic delay: more than three ward transfers ( The use of isolation precautions for patients who did not have COVID-19 had minor negative effects on patient outcomes. The present study underlines the importance of targeting diagnostic efforts to patients with unspecified symptoms and to those with a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result. Thorough investigations to achieve an accurate diagnosis improves the prognosis of patients and facilitates appropriate targeting of hospital resources.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
Isolation precautions are essential prevent spread of COVID-19 infection but may have a negative impact on inpatient care. The impact of these measures on non-COVID-19 patients remains largely unexplored.
AIM OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate diagnostic and treatment delays related to isolation precautions, the associated patient outcome, and the predisposing risk factors for delays.
METHODS METHODS
This observational study was conducted in seven Helsinki region hospitals during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland. The study used data on all non-COVID-19 inpatients, who were initially isolated due to suspected COVID-19, to estimate whether isolation precautions resulted in diagnostic or treatment delays.
RESULTS RESULTS
Out of 683 non-COVID-19 patients, 33 (4.8%) had delays related to isolation precautions. Clinical condition deteriorated non-fatally in seven (1.0%) patients. The following events were associated with an increased risk of treatment or a diagnostic delay: more than three ward transfers (
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
The use of isolation precautions for patients who did not have COVID-19 had minor negative effects on patient outcomes. The present study underlines the importance of targeting diagnostic efforts to patients with unspecified symptoms and to those with a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result. Thorough investigations to achieve an accurate diagnosis improves the prognosis of patients and facilitates appropriate targeting of hospital resources.

Identifiants

DOI: 10.1016/j.infpip.2021.100178 PMID: 34642658 PMC: PMC8492011
pubmed: 34642658
doi: 10.1016/j.infpip.2021.100178
pii: S2590-0889(21)00067-6
pmc: PMC8492011
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Pagination

100178

Informations de copyright

© 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Healthcare Infection Society.

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Auteurs

J Paajanen (J)

Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Heart and Lung Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029, Helsinki, Finland.

L K Mäkinen (LK)

Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Heart and Lung Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029, Helsinki, Finland.

A Suikkila (A)

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Head and Neck Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029, Helsinki, Finland.

M Rehell (M)

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Head and Neck Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029, Helsinki, Finland.

M Javanainen (M)

Meilahti University Hospital, Adnominal Center, HUS, Haartmaninkatu 4, Helsinki P.O. Box 340, FIN-00029, Helsinki, Finland.

A Lindahl (A)

Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Heart and Lung Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029, Helsinki, Finland.

E Kekäläinen (E)

HUS Diagnostic Center, HUSLAB, Clinical Microbiology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.
Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Finland.

S Kurkela (S)

HUS Diagnostic Center, HUSLAB, Clinical Microbiology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.

K Halmesmäki (K)

Department of Vascular Surgery, Abdominal Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029, Helsinki, Finland.

V-J Anttila (VJ)

Department of Infectious Diseases, Inflammatory Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, HUS, 00029, Finland.

S Lamminmäki (S)

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Head and Neck Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029, Helsinki, Finland.

Classifications MeSH