Nosocomial Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in a "Non-COVID-19" Hospital Ward: Virus Genome Sequencing as a Key Tool to Understand Cryptic Transmission.

ABSTRACT: Dissemination of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in healthcare institutions affects both patients and health-care workers (HCW), as well as the institutional capacity to provide essential health services. Here, we investigated an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in a "non-COVID-19" hospital ward unveiled by massive testing, which challenged the reconstruction of transmission chains. The contacts network during the 15-day period before the screening was investigated, and positive SARS-CoV-2 RNA samples were subjected to virus genome sequencing. Of the 245 tested individuals, 48 (21 patients and 27 HCWs) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. HCWs were mostly asymptomatic, but the mortality among patients reached 57.1% (12/21). Phylogenetic reconstruction revealed that all cases

SUBMITTER: Borges V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8065743 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature