Detecting and Responding to COVID-19 Outbreaks in UMMS Facilities

Together, we must be diligent in evaluating our environments of work and care, and reporting concerns about potential clusters of outbreak to Infection Prevention.

This guidance delivers a framework for Infection Prevention teams to recognize and respond to health care-associated clusters and outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus, which may be generated and transmitted from within our facilities.

Patients undergoing care in a UMMS hospital who develop symptoms associated with COVID-19, at any point 14 days after admission should be considered a nosocomial case. Additionally, if two or more people from a single unit or work location develop COVID-19 symptoms within a 14-day period, a transmission evaluation will be conducted.

These potential clusters of outbreak should be promptly reported to Infection Prevention as well as the local health department associated with the hospital. They will trigger a number of operational responses, including testing of all relative symptomatic patients and health care workers, movement of suspected and confirmed patients to areas of isolation, and collaboration with Employee Health as decisions are made about whether potentially exposed staff members should continue reporting to work or transition into temporary quarantine.

Click here to view the Guidance on Detecting and Responding to COVID-19 Outbreaks in UMMS Facilities.

FAQs

What indicators may be present, to suggest a hospital-based outbreak of COVID-19?


If a patient develops symptoms associated with COVID-19 more than 14 days after admission, the case should be considered nosocomial (acquired within the hospital). Additionally, in the event that two or more people from a single unit or work location develop symptoms within a 14-day period, a transmission evaluation will be conducted in that area of the hospital.

What actions will be taken if a hospital-based outbreak is confirmed in a specific unit or work area?𠊊ll symptomatic patients and health care workers in that area will be tested for COVID-19. The entire unit may be placed on droplet and contact precautions. Patients suspected or confirmed to have the virus will be moved to single rooms or other areas of isolation.

How does an outbreak impact staff on that unit?

Symptomatic health care workers will refrain from reporting to work, temporarily. Those without symptoms but who have experienced a high-risk exposure should quarantine, if it can be done in a way that does not cause significant staffing challenges. Alternatively, these staff members may continue working while closely monitoring their health by conducting temperature screenings twice per day and assuring no COVID-19 symptoms become evident.

Will the unit close for additional admissions?


There are both risks and benefits associated with this decision. A careful evaluation of the unit and patient population undergoing care there will be conducted to make this decision on a case-by-case basis. Units that do close will not accept new admissions for a period of at least 72 hours; this timeframe allows Infection Prevention to confirm no ongoing transmission is occurring among patients and/or staff, before re-opening.