Rapid Control of Hospital-Based Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Omicron Clusters Through Daily Testing and Universal Use of N95 Respirators
Meghan A. Baker, Chanu Rhee, Robert Tucker, Amy Badwaik, Cassie Coughlin, Meghan Holtzman, Candace Hsieh, Angela M. Maguire, Elizabeth Mermel Blaeser, Saranya Seetharaman, Ofelia Solem, Vineeta Vaidya, Michael Klompas
Abstract
The highly contagious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Omicron variant increases risk for nosocomial transmission despite universal masking, admission testing, and symptom screening. We report large increases in hospital-onset infections and 2 unit-based clusters. The clusters rapidly abated after instituting universal N95 respirators and daily testing. Broader use of these strategies may prevent nosocomial transmissions.
Topics & Concepts
MedicineRespiratorSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)2019-20 coronavirus outbreakBetacoronavirusRespiratory systemCoronavirusPatient isolationVirologyIntensive care medicineInfection controlEmergency medicineInternal medicineOutbreakInfectious disease (medical specialty)Composite materialDiseaseMaterials scienceInfection Control and VentilationSARS-CoV-2 detection and testingSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research