AI Article Synopsis
- The airborne SARS-CoV-2 virus significantly threatens the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions, particularly in South German nursing homes, prompting urgent preventive measures by the government.
- A study in Reutlingen County details a three-phase COVID-19 testing strategy, involving extensive testing of residents and staff, contact tracing, isolation, and hygiene inspections to manage outbreaks.
- Results showed high testing rates (98% of residents, 92% of staff), with a notable number of cases discovered in nursing homes, leading to effective early interventions and changes in German legislation, suggesting that these outbreak management strategies could be beneficial in other countries as well.
Article Abstract
Background: The air borne SARS-CoV-2 poses a high threat to the elderly and people with underlying diseases. COVID-19 spread quickly in South German nursing homes and for this reason called for preventive measures by the German government. The aim of this paper is to showcase the testing strategies implemented by the Public Health Department Reutlingen to control the spread of COVID-19 in local nursing homes and to report the results thereof.
Methods: This study reports COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes in Reutlingen County and how they were dealt with through extensive testing, contact tracing, isolation and hygiene inspections. The testing strategy consisted of three phases: In phase 1 only suspected cases, in phase 2 all staff and residents, and in phase 3 all suspected cases and their contacts were tested.
Results: Nearly all residents (98%) and staff members (92%) of all nursing homes in Reutlingen County were tested for SARS-COV-2. 25 of 37 nursing homes had COVID-19 cases, 5 had 30-81 cases/home. 62% of the 395 nursing homes cases were residents, but less than half of them exhibited symptoms (41%). The cases uncovered in nursing homes represented 26% of all 1529 cases in Reutlingen County during the time of this study.
Conclusions: Many COVID-19 cases were discovered through extensive testing, allowing for early interventions. The results shed light on the COVID-19 situation in nursing homes and allowed for individually designed preventive measures. The results also lead to a change in the German legislation. The outbreak management methods of the Public Health Department Reutlingen may also be applicable in other countries.
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|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8961262 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12879-022-07133-8 | DOI Listing |
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