Hospital’s COVID-19 Outbreak Total 31 Cases

Cases were traced to inpatient unit for surgical and cancer patients

By By Dan Hounsell


As COVID-19 cases surge again in parts of the country, an outbreak in one prominent hospital is demonstrating all over that infection control — even in the highest-priority areas of hospitals — is an immense challenge.

Last month’s outbreak of COVID-19 that began in a patient ward at Duke Raleigh Hospital in North Carolina is blamed for a total of 31 cases, Duke University Health System said recently, according to the News & Observer.

Duke Health tracked down dozens of hospital staff, patients and visitors who might have been exposed to the coronavirus as a result of the outbreak and that the final test results came back last week. Most who tested positive were Duke employees.

The COVID-19 cases were traced to a fifth floor inpatient unit for surgical and cancer patients. The first were confirmed over the weekend of March 20 and 21. Duke had found 25 cases by the end of that week but continued contact tracing until recently.

The hospital said it did a deep clean of the fifth floor unit where the outbreak began, including the use of ultraviolet light to keep pathogens from reproducing or remaining infectious.



April 14, 2021


Topic Area: Infection Control


Recent Posts

Infection Control is Key to Ongoing Measles Outbreak

Infection control is essential to protecting both patients and staff from contracting measles.


Kaiser Permanente to Open New Parker Medical Offices

It also announced it's in the early stages of planning a rebuild and expansion of its Westminster Medical Offices.


Skanska Completes Renovation for New Sutter Health Care Center

The new facility will provide internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, as well as lab and imaging services.


Probiotic Cleaners: The Start of a Cleaning Revolution?

Advantages of probiotic cleaning include fewer resistant genes and cost savings through decreased antibiotic use.


Gun Incident Highlights Need for Security Infrastructure

A man was arrested at Aultman Memorial Hospital after allegedly firing a gun in the ER.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.