Hospital Inhouse Contact Tracing-Significant Impact To Patient Care During The Coronavirus Pandemic

Background As part of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the district of Heinsberg developed into an infectiological epicentre for Germany in February 2020. Our hospital, which is located in the immediate vicinity, reacted very quickly in addition to adapting patient care by implementing an organizational structure for recording SARS-CoV-2-positive employees, patients and their contact persons. Objectives The infections recorded in contact tracing were analysed and, based on an exemplary outbreak, infection chains and follow-up processes were evaluated. Material and methods Comprehensive data on contact types, oropharyngeal swab results for SARS-CoV-2 and quarantine days were documented and retrospectively evaluated using a self-developed database. Results Of the 568 employees recorded by in-house contact tracing, 32 employees (1.2%, n = 2567) were detected as SARS-CoV-2 positive. Of those, 50% (n = 16) tested positive due to contact tracing, 15.6% (n = 5) were recorded by routine smears and 34.4% (n = 11) were returning travellers. The variable PCR results of the control smears from these positive employees were noticeable. In 18.8% (n = 6) of the initially negative control smears, positive PCR results were found in the following control smear. The inhouse contact tracing team was able to detect infection clusters on non-COVID-19 wards at an early stage and, together with clinical hygiene and the public health department, initiated comprehensive measures to limit the spread of the virus. Infection chains could thus be interrupted. Conclusion The work of the clinic's own contact tracing unit has proven to be an essential part of clinical pandemic management not least against the background of new waves of infection and is indispensable for the detection of local infection clusters.