COVID-19 prevention and control measures: Emergency center of the University Clinical Center of Serbia

Abstract

In less than a year, humanity has managed to start a long and difficult battle against a virus, with a powerful weapon - the vaccine. In addition to vaccination, which is undoubtedly the most important measure in preventing COVID-19, our responsible behavior (wearing masks, hand hygiene, observing physical distance), especially in this period of an increase in the number of patients and the emergence of new strains, also remains an important measure in preventing and controlling the spread of COVID-19. In this paper, an overview of professional recommendations and instructions for the epidemiological surveillance of health care institutions is given. The study objective is to present the manner of organizing the epidemiological surveillance of the Epidemiology Department of the University Clinical Center of Serbia (UCCS) at the Emergency Center of the UCCS (EC-UCCS) as well as the application of measures to prevent and control COVID-19. To this end the method of the triage of patients with suspected COVID-19 in the Emergency Center of the UCCS has been shown. The Guidelines for the Rational Use of Personal Protective Equipment in Healthcare Facilities Depending on the Activities Performed, as well as the Recommendations of the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (Atlanta, USA) have been presented. The Algorithm for the Procedures with Patients with Suspected and Proven COVID-19 Infection for Patients of the EC-UCCS has been formed. This Algorithm has been in use since March 1, 2020, in the EC-UCCS Admissions Service Triage Facility. In addition to this Algorithm, the screening of medical staff for SARS-CoV-2 has been performed by sampling nasopharyngeal and throat swabs (for PCR analysis and antigen tests) and blood (for serological analyses).