Infection Prevention and Control for ICU during COVID-19 Pandemic: Position Paper of the Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine

JOURNAL TITLE: Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine

Author
1. Jeetendra Sharma
2. Dhruva Chaudhary
3. Swarna Deepak Kuragayala
4. Kesavarapu Subba Reddy
5. Shikha Sahi
ISSN
0972-5229
DOI
10.5005/jp-journals-10071-23607
Volume
24
Issue
S5
Publishing Year
2020
Pages
10
Author Affiliations
    1. Department of Critical Care, Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
    1. Department of Critical Care Medicine, Apollo Health City, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
    1. Department of Critical Care, Artemis Hospital, Gurugram, Haryana, India
    1. Department of Pulmonology and Critical Care, PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana, India
  • Article keywords

    Abstract

    Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has very high rates of hospital-related transmission among healthcare workers (HCWs), mandating the need for careful intensive care unit (ICU) designing, optimization of staff resources, implementation of vigorous infection control practices, environmental disinfection, meticulous sample collection, and criteria for staff quarantine. Most of the ICUs are not designed to deal with airborne viral infections and require redesigning for the safety of HCWs and patients. Infection control practices related to the prevention of spread of COVD-19 are unique and are well described. The training of staff on infection control practices reduces the infection rate among HCWs significantly. Adequate staffing not only helps in infection control but also prevents burnout of the staff. In case of infection to HCW, the staff must be assessed systematically, and institute's infection control committee should guide for isolation period as well as return to work based upon standard recommendations. This article focuses on infection control and prevention measures required in ICU during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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