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Transmission of infection among health care personnel performing surgical tracheostomies on COVID-19 patients

Angamuthu, N; Geraldine Gagasa, E; Baker, D; Tsui, J; Evan D’Souza, R; (2021) Transmission of infection among health care personnel performing surgical tracheostomies on COVID-19 patients. The Surgeon 10.1016/j.surge.2021.01.007. (In press). Green open access

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Abstract

Background: Staff and patient safety are of paramount importance while performing a surgical tracheostomy(ST) during the corona virus disease(COVID-19) pandemic. The aim was to assess the incidence of COVID-19 infection among the healthcare personnel(HCP) performing ST on COVID-19 patients. / Methods: One hundred and twenty-two HCP participating in 71 ST procedures performed at our institution between 26th March 2020 and 27th May 2020 were identified. A COVID-19 health questionnaire was distributed among staff with their consent. Data related to the presence of COVID-19 symptoms(new onset continuous cough, fever, loss of taste and/or loss of smell) among HCP involved in ST as well as patient related data were collected. / Results: Of the HCP who responded, eleven(15%,11/72) reported key COVID-19 symptoms and went into self-isolation. Ten members from this group underwent a COVID-19 swab test and three tested positive. Only one HCP attended hospital for symptomatic treatment, none required hospitalisation. Sixty percent(43/72) of the responders had a COVID-19 antibody test with a positive rate of 18.6%(8/43). Among the patients undergoing a ST, 67%(37/55) required a direct intensive care unit(ICU) admission; the mean age was 58 years(29-78) with a male preponderance(65.5%). The median time from intubation to ST was 15 days (range 5-33,IQR=9). The overall mortality was 11%(6/55). / Conclusions: ST can be carried out safely with strict adherence to both, personnel protective equipment and ST protocols which are vital to mitigate the potential transmission of COVID-19 to the HCP.

Type: Article
Title: Transmission of infection among health care personnel performing surgical tracheostomies on COVID-19 patients
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.surge.2021.01.007
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surge.2021.01.007
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Tracheostomy, COVID-19, pandemic, transmission, health personnel, protocol, aerosol, high risk, surgical procedure, operative, SARS-CoV-2, disease transmission, infectious
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Surgery and Interventional Sci
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Surgery and Interventional Sci > Department of Surgical Biotechnology
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10122098
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