426. COVID-19 Infection Prevention Practices That Exceed CDC Guidance: Balancing Extra Caution Against Impediments to Care
Authors: Gohil Shruti K , Septimus Edward , Sands Kenneth , Blanchard Eunice J , Moody Julia , Maurice Annabelle De St , Yokoe Deborah S , Yokoe Deborah S , Kwon Jennie H , Grein Jonathan , Cohen Stuart H , Uslan Daniel , Milind Vasudev , Mabalot Shannon C , Coady Micaela H , Selsebil Sljivo , Smith Kimberly N , Carver Brandon , Poland Russell , Perlin Jonathan B , Platt Richard , Huang Susan S 
Published: December 2021

Background

At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) raised concerns about personal risks of acquiring infection during patient care. This led to more stringent infection prevention practices than CDC guidelines during a time of uncertainty about transmission and limited U.S. testing capacity. Hospitals were challenged to protect against true COVID-19 exposure risks, while avoiding use of unproven measures that could interfere with timely, high quality care. We evaluated hospital experiences with HCW COVID-19 exposure concerns impacting clinical workflow/management.

Methods

We conducted a 32-question structured survey of hospital infection prevention leaders (one per hospital) from CDC Prevention Epicenters, University of California (CA) Health system, HCA Healthcare, and the Southern CA Metrics Committee between May–Dec, 2020. We assessed facility characteristics and COVID-19 exposure concerns causing changes in respiratory care, procedure delays/modifications, requests to change infection prevention processes, disruptions in routine medical care, and health impacts of PPE overuse. Percentages were calculated among respondents for each question.

Results

Respondents represented 53 hospitals: 22 (42%) were small (&lt; 200 beds), 14 (26%) medium (200-400 beds), and 17 (32%) large ( &gt;400 beds) facilities. Of these, 11 (21%) provided Level 1 trauma care, and 22 (41%) provided highly immunocompromised patient care; 75% had cared for a substantial number of COVID-19 cases before survey completion. Majority reported changes in respiratory care delivery (71%-87%), procedural delays (75%-87%), requests to change infection prevention controls/protocols (58%-96%), and occupational health impacts of PPE overuse including skin irritation (98%) and carbon dioxide narcosis symptoms (55%) (Table).

Conclusion

HCW concerns over work-related COVID-19 exposure contributed to practice changes, many of which are unsupported by CDC guidance and resulted in healthcare delivery delays and alterations in clinical care. Pandemic planning and response must include the ability to rapidly develop evidence to guide infection prevention practice.

Disclosures

Shruti K. Gohil, MD, MPH, Medline (Other Financial or Material Support, Co-Investigator in studies in which participating hospitals and nursing homes received contributed antiseptic and cleaning products)Molnycke (Other Financial or Material Support, Co-Investigator in studies in which participating hospitals and nursing homes received contributed antiseptic and cleaning products)Stryker (Sage) (Other Financial or Material Support, Co-Investigator in studies in which participating hospitals and nursing homes received contributed antiseptic and cleaning products) Edward Septimus, MD, Medline (Other Financial or Material Support, Conducted studies in which participating hospitals received contributed antiseptic products)Molnlycke (Other Financial or Material Support, Conducted studies in which participating hospitals received contributed antiseptic products) Kenneth Sands, MD, MPH, Medline (Other Financial or Material Support, Conducted studies in which participating hospitals received contributed antiseptic product) Eunice J. Blanchard, MSN RN, Medline (Other Financial or Material Support, Conducted studies in which participating hospitals received contributed antiseptic product) Julia Moody, MS, Medline (Other Financial or Material Support, Conducted studies in which participating hospitals received contributed antiseptic product)Molnlycke (Other Financial or Material Support, Conducted studies in which participating hospitals received contributed antiseptic product) Deborah S. Yokoe, MD, MPH, Nothing to disclose Jonathan Grein, MD, Gilead (Other Financial or Material Support, Speakers fees) Stuart H. Cohen, MD, Seres (Research Grant or Support) Kimberly N. Smith, MBA, Medline (Other Financial or Material Support, Conducted studies in which participating hospitals received contributed antiseptic product) Brandon Carver, BA, Medline (Other Financial or Material Support, Conducted studies in which participating hospitals received contributed antiseptic product) Russell Poland, PhD, Medline (Other Financial or Material Support, Conducted studies in which participating hospitals received contributed antiseptic product) Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, PhD, Medline (Other Financial or Material Support, Conducted studies in which participating hospitals received contributed antiseptic product)Molnlycke (Other Financial or Material Support, Conducted studies in which participating hospitals received contributed antiseptic product) Richard Platt, MD, MSc, Medline (Research Grant or Support, Other Financial or Material Support, Conducted studies in which participating hospitals received contributed antiseptic product)Molnlycke (Other Financial or Material Support, Conducted studies in which participating hospitals received contributed antiseptic product) Susan S. Huang, MD, MPH, Medline (Other Financial or Material Support, Conducted studies in which participating hospitals and nursing homes received contributed antiseptic and cleaning products)Molnlycke (Other Financial or Material Support, Conducted studies in which participating hospitals and nursing homes received contributed antiseptic and cleaning products)Stryker (Sage) (Other Financial or Material Support, Conducted studies in which participating hospitals and nursing homes received contributed antiseptic and cleaning products)Xttrium (Other Financial or Material Support, Conducted studies in which participating hospitals and nursing homes received contributed antiseptic and cleaning products)