Hospitalization of SARS-CoV-2 paediatric patients within the general paediatrics ward – coping with a persistent pandemic
2Department of Paediatric Emergency Medicine and Infection Control, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel,
3Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
Objective: To examine whether hospitalization of SARS-CoV-2 pediatric patients within general pediatrics wards is safe for other patients and staff members.
Design: During May-August 2020, we documented supervision and care practices for SARS-CoV-2 positive patients in isolation rooms situated in general wards. In addition, national computerized medical records were reviewed for patients who tested negative during the hospitalization and 2-week post-hospitalization periods, in order to identify cases of possible infection during hospitalization.
Results: During the study period, 39 confirmed SARS-CoV-2 patients and 566 pediatric patients were hospitalized in the general pediatric ward. Among patients who tested negative, only seven tested positive, all of them more than 14 days after discharge. One staff member also tested positive, but according to the epidemiological investigation, the infection was from her known family member and not from positive inpatients.
Conclusion: Admittance of pediatrics SARS-CoV-2 positive patients to the general pediatric ward, while maintaining recommended isolation and protection measures, was found to be safe for medical staff and other patients in this hospital study. Towards the upcoming winter months, this study suggests dedicating a special pediatrics SARS-CoV-2 unit is not justified.