Utilizing Whole Genome Sequencing to Investigate a COVID-19 Cluster Among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Facility in the Philippines: Insights and Implications for Infection Prevention and Control.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the importance of genomic surveillance and whole genome sequencing (WGS) for identifying mutations and supporting epidemiologic investigations. Healthcare workers (HCWs) face unique risks for COVID-19, potentially amplifying outbreaks within healthcare facilities (HCFs). This report details the use of WGS to retrospectively investigate a COVID-19 cluster among HCWs in a tertiary care HCF in the Philippines.

Methods

Epidemiologic investigation was conducted by the HCF infection prevention and control (IPC) staff. The Global Action in Healthcare Network (GAIHN) COVID-19 variant characterization project retrospectively conducted WGS on selected HCW and inpatient respiratory specimens associated with the

SUBMITTER: de Guzman Betito G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12272845 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature