State of the Science Review
Infection control practices in children during COVID-19 pandemic: Differences from adults

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2020.05.022Get rights and content

Highlights

  • High rate of asymptomatic children may increase the spreading of the disease.

  • Healthcare workers in the pediatric hospitals are under great risk for exposure.

  • Infection control precautions play crucial role to prevent the transmissions to HCWs.

  • Personal protective equipment use is a very important strategy for protection of HCWs.

Background

Limited studies have been published on practices and management of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children. Despite the fact that COVID-19 rarely caused any severe disease in children, the asymptomatic children might be playing an important role for spreading COVID-19 in healthcare facilities. This review aimed at sharing our experience of how to handle patients with COVID-19 in a pediatric referral and tertiary care hospital to prevent the possible transmissions to the healthcare workers (HCWs).

Methods

This review sought to identify infection control practices measures during COVID-19 pandemic comes from our daily practice combined with the most recent guidelines with the new experience and information.

Results

Prevention the transmission of COVID-19 to the HCWs, 4 primary themes should be taken into consideration; (1) ongoing education and importance of the organization of the healthcare facility, (2) proper clinical triage and isolation of the suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients in the outpatient clinics and in the emergency departments, (3) necessity of the organization of the COVID-19 wards, and (4) utilization of personal protective equipment.

Conclusions

Infection control precautions to prevent the possible transmissions to HCWs as well as the other patients and their caregivers from children with COVID-19 are very critical. If sufficient precautions are not taken, healthcare settings may serve as additional source of transmission and spread of COVID-19 in the society.

Key Words

Coronavirus
Healthcare workers
Experience in children

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