tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol
. 2020 Jun 21.
doi: 10.1007/s00417-020-04790-w. Online ahead of print.
Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission to Medical Staff and Patients From an Exposure to a COVID-19-positive Ophthalmologist
Ori Saban[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jaime Levy[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Itay Chowers[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the risk of transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) after exposure to a COVID-19+ physician in a retina clinic.
Methods: A retrospective observational study. Records of 142 patients and 11 staff members from a single retina clinic that were exposed to a COVID-19+ ophthalmologist were reviewed. All 153 individuals were placed in quarantine for 14 days. They were contacted after the quarantine period to inquire about symptoms consistent with COVID-19, and the results of diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2 when performed.
Results: All patients (n = 142) were contacted successfully. The mean age was 72.8 ? 13.6 years; 54.2% (n = 77) were females. Twenty-three patients (16.2%) were exposed during an ophthalmic exam, 111 (78.2%) during intraocular injection, 4 (2.8%) underwent exam and injection, 3 (2.1%) underwent surgery, and one patient (0.7%) had laser photocoagulation. Half of the patients (50%; n = 71) were in contact with the COVID-19+ physician while he was symptomatic. Forty-four patients (31%) wore a mask on the day of their visit. 11.3% (n = 16) of the patients, and all involved staff had been tested for the virus and all were negative. One patient (0.7%) reported transient cough and sore throat, and the remaining 141 (99.3%) patients and 11 (100%) staff did not develop symptoms.
Conclusions: Low risk for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the ophthalmic setting was observed when universal safety measures such as social distancing, meticulous hand hygiene, enlarged breath shields, and mask wear during procedures were taken.
Keywords: COVID-19; Retina clinic; SARS-CoV-2; Transmission.
. 2020 Jun 21.
doi: 10.1007/s00417-020-04790-w. Online ahead of print.
Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission to Medical Staff and Patients From an Exposure to a COVID-19-positive Ophthalmologist
Ori Saban[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jaime Levy[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Itay Chowers[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 32567041
- DOI: 10.1007/s00417-020-04790-w
Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the risk of transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) after exposure to a COVID-19+ physician in a retina clinic.
Methods: A retrospective observational study. Records of 142 patients and 11 staff members from a single retina clinic that were exposed to a COVID-19+ ophthalmologist were reviewed. All 153 individuals were placed in quarantine for 14 days. They were contacted after the quarantine period to inquire about symptoms consistent with COVID-19, and the results of diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2 when performed.
Results: All patients (n = 142) were contacted successfully. The mean age was 72.8 ? 13.6 years; 54.2% (n = 77) were females. Twenty-three patients (16.2%) were exposed during an ophthalmic exam, 111 (78.2%) during intraocular injection, 4 (2.8%) underwent exam and injection, 3 (2.1%) underwent surgery, and one patient (0.7%) had laser photocoagulation. Half of the patients (50%; n = 71) were in contact with the COVID-19+ physician while he was symptomatic. Forty-four patients (31%) wore a mask on the day of their visit. 11.3% (n = 16) of the patients, and all involved staff had been tested for the virus and all were negative. One patient (0.7%) reported transient cough and sore throat, and the remaining 141 (99.3%) patients and 11 (100%) staff did not develop symptoms.
Conclusions: Low risk for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the ophthalmic setting was observed when universal safety measures such as social distancing, meticulous hand hygiene, enlarged breath shields, and mask wear during procedures were taken.
Keywords: COVID-19; Retina clinic; SARS-CoV-2; Transmission.