SCREENING OF A HEMODIALYSIS CENTER FOR SARS-COV-2 PCR: TRANSMISSION RISKS AND OUTCOMES OF COVID-19 INFECTION

Ruhı C.

17th BANTAO Congress, Antalya, Türkiye, 10 - 13 Kasım 2022, ss.27

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
  • Basıldığı Şehir: Antalya
  • Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.27
  • Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Introduction: The novel type of coronavirus; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for Covid-19 infection. Covid-19 transmission risk is very high in indoor crowded places such as hemodialysis centers. We aimed to investigate transmission risk and outcomes of Covid-19 in a hemodialysis center for both patients and medical/support personnel.

 

Methods: The hemodialysis center has 247 patients, and 45 personnel (22 healthcare workers, 23 supporting personnel). Hemodialysis patients and the personnel were screened with the SARS CoV-2 PCR test to detect Covid-19.  The transmission risk of Covid-19 was investigated by determining the patient layout of infected patients in the dialysis rooms. The rate of Covid-19 infection mediated hospitalization, viral pneumonia, and mortality in the patients and personnel were determined.

 

Results: The rate of Covid-19 infection was 46,7% (n=21) among the personnel. Three of them had pneumonia, and need hospitalization. No mortality was observed. The incidence of Covid-19 was 16.5% (n=41) among the hemodialysis patients, the mean age of the patients was 61.6 years. Viral pneumonia was diagnosed in 36 (88%) of 41 patients. Hospitalization and mortality rate was very high; 78% and 14,6% respectively. The mean age of six patients with mortality was 67.8 years, while 60.1 years in the recovered patients (p=0.041). In the evaluation of the dialysis rooms; the busiest room of the center has the 28% of the total dialysis patients (n=70) and almost half of all cases of Covid-19 infections (n=19) were determined there.

 

Discussion: ESRD patients undergoing intermittent hemodialysis treatment and personnel in dialysis centers have a high risk of transmission regarding Covid-19 infection. Not the personnel but the dialysis patients have an increased rate of viral pneumonia, hospitalization, and most importantly, mortality than the general population. Strict measures and precautions are needed to reduce the risk of transmission in hemodialysis centers.