Science and Research

Infection control in the intensive care unit: expert consensus statements for SARS-CoV-2 using a Delphi method

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, health-care workers and uninfected patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are at risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 as a result of transmission from infected patients and health-care workers. In the absence of high-quality evidence on the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, clinical practice of infection control and prevention in ICUs varies widely. Using a Delphi process, international experts in intensive care, infectious diseases, and infection control developed consensus statements on infection control for SARS-CoV-2 in an ICU. Consensus was achieved for 31 (94%) of 33 statements, from which 25 clinical practice statements were issued. These statements include guidance on ICU design and engineering, health-care worker safety, visiting policy, personal protective equipment, patients and procedures, disinfection, and sterilisation. Consensus was not reached on optimal return to work criteria for health-care workers who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 or the acceptable disinfection strategy for heat-sensitive instruments used for airway management of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Well designed studies are needed to assess the effects of these practice statements and address the remaining uncertainties.

  • Nasa, P.
  • Azoulay, E.
  • Chakrabarti, A.
  • Divatia, J. V.
  • Jain, R.
  • Rodrigues, C.
  • Rosenthal, V. D.
  • Alhazzani, W.
  • Arabi, Y. M.
  • Bakker, J.
  • Bassetti, M.
  • De Waele, J.
  • Dimopoulos, G.
  • Du, B.
  • Einav, S.
  • Evans, L.
  • Finfer, S.
  • Guérin, C.
  • Hammond, N. E.
  • Jaber, S.
  • Kleinpell, R. M.
  • Koh, Y.
  • Kollef, M.
  • Levy, M. M.
  • Machado, F. R.
  • Mancebo, J.
  • Martin-Loeches, I.
  • Mer, M.
  • Niederman, M. S.
  • Pelosi, P.
  • Perner, A.
  • Peter, J. V.
  • Phua, J.
  • Piquilloud, L.
  • Pletz, M. W.
  • Rhodes, A.
  • Schultz, M. J.
  • Singer, M.
  • Timsit, J. F.
  • Venkatesh, B.
  • Vincent, J. L.
  • Welte, T.
  • Myatra, S. N.

Keywords

  • *covid-19
  • COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage
  • *Consensus
  • Delphi Technique
  • Health Personnel/standards
  • Humans
  • Infection Control/*standards
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional/*prevention & control
  • Intensive Care Units/*standards
  • Personal Protective Equipment/standards
  • SARS-CoV-2/*isolation & purification
Publication details
DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(21)00626-5
Journal: Lancet Infect Dis
Pages: e74-e87 
Number: 3
Work Type: Review
Location: BREATH
Disease Area: PALI
Partner / Member: MHH
Access-Number: 34774188

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