Every day in the media there are new reports about new patients of Nursing Homes infected with the coronavirus. Why does the Wuhan virus spread faster in such places than elsewhere? This is explained by the immunologist Dr. Paweł Grzesiowski.
Niedabyl, Tomczyce, Jakubowice, Drzewica, Gorzyce - these are the places whereSocial Welfare Homes- coronavirus infections have been reported in all these centers. Some homes also have staff infected with COVID in excess of 50, 60.
No isolation and harsh conditions
Why are Nursing Homeshighest risk of infection ? Is it only because the inmates of these centers are elderly people with less immunity? We asked Dr. Paweł Grzesiowski, an immunologist, president of the Institute for Infection Prevention Foundation, about it.
- Nursing Homes are centers where it is very difficult to isolate the inhabitants - explainsDr. Paweł Grzesiowski . - Often such places resemble guesthouses: there are rooms for several people, where the sick or the elderly stay, they often have shared bathrooms and canteens. Therefore, the spread of the virus in such a medium is extremely easy, especially since it is spread not only by droplets, but also by touch.
That is why in such places you need to take extra care of hygiene, which, according to our interlocutor, has always been difficult. - There are people who are lying, immobile, who need to be washed, changed and fed. Now, whenthere is a shortage of cleaning products , when there is a shortage of masks, protective aprons - maintaining hygiene can be even more difficult.
Ombudsman raises alarms
Already at the beginning of the epidemic, in mid-March, the Ombudsman said about the high risk of coronavirus infection in nursing homes. He drew the attention of the Chief Sanitary Inspector to the lack of recommendations that would prevent the spread of the coronavirus infection in such places.
The Ombudsman was particularly concerned about the lack of preparedness of the staff in terms of recognizing the symptoms of COVID, insufficient restrictions on visits orthe lack of possible isolation of patients . He also called for better infection prevention and introductionadditional disinfection and disinfection protections.
Coronavirus comes from outside
These last recommendations are very important because, as Dr. Grzesiowski emphasizes, the DPS staff are outsiders who may unknowingly bring the coronavirus to the center.
Our expert also emphasizes that many residents of the DPS are lying people. A small number of staff members deal with them.
- Sometimes there are 2-3 caregivers for every twenty elderly or sick people - says Dr. Paweł Grzesiowski. - If one person becomes infected, the others will also get infected immediately.
How to prevent further infections in Polish DPS?
- The rescue is the same as in other centers of this type - says our expert. - Avoidance of visits to minimize the risk of virus transmission to the center, isolation of patients, thorough washing of hands and protection of face masks.
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