{"title":"Nosocomial outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in a hospital ward during the Omicron variant-dominant wave with a review of the relevant literature","authors":"Hilary Osaka, Yasuaki Tagashira, Hiroaki Takeuchi, Yukie Tanaka, Kousuke Tanimoto, Yoshiaki Gu","doi":"10.7883/yoken.jjid.2023.464","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"</p><p>Clusters of nosocomial coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were reported globally during the recent pandemic. Unfortunately, these clusters negatively impacted inpatient morbidity, mortality, and hospital functions. Using epidemiological data and whole genome sequencing (WGS) of SARS-CoV-2, the present study investigated an outbreak of COVID-19 at a university hospital. Eight inpatients and 13 healthcare workers tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during a one-month period. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of the virus in 11 patients revealed that two variants of concern belonging to the Omicron sublineages, BA.2.3 and BA1.1.2, had caused the outbreak during a time when the proportion of the Omicron lineage in the community was changing. When variants of concern are undergoing mutation, a response to the outbreak should be made with multiple variants in mind, even in the absence of epidemiological data showing close contact or other potential vectors of infection, and awareness about infection prevention and control should be raised to safeguard patient safety.</p>\n<p></p>","PeriodicalId":14608,"journal":{"name":"Japanese journal of infectious diseases","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Japanese journal of infectious diseases","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.7883/yoken.jjid.2023.464","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"INFECTIOUS DISEASES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Clusters of nosocomial coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were reported globally during the recent pandemic. Unfortunately, these clusters negatively impacted inpatient morbidity, mortality, and hospital functions. Using epidemiological data and whole genome sequencing (WGS) of SARS-CoV-2, the present study investigated an outbreak of COVID-19 at a university hospital. Eight inpatients and 13 healthcare workers tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during a one-month period. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of the virus in 11 patients revealed that two variants of concern belonging to the Omicron sublineages, BA.2.3 and BA1.1.2, had caused the outbreak during a time when the proportion of the Omicron lineage in the community was changing. When variants of concern are undergoing mutation, a response to the outbreak should be made with multiple variants in mind, even in the absence of epidemiological data showing close contact or other potential vectors of infection, and awareness about infection prevention and control should be raised to safeguard patient safety.
期刊介绍:
Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases (JJID), an official bimonthly publication of National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, publishes papers dealing with basic research on infectious diseases relevant to humans in the fields of bacteriology, virology, mycology, parasitology, medical entomology, vaccinology, and toxinology. Pathology, immunology, biochemistry, and blood safety related to microbial pathogens are among the fields covered. Sections include: original papers, short communications, epidemiological reports, methods, laboratory and epidemiology communications, letters to the editor, and reviews.