General In-Patient Questions

Frequently Asked Inpatient Questions Microchapter
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sara Haddadi, M.D.[2]Nuha Al-Howthi, MD[3]Rinky Agnes Botleroo, M.B.B.S.{GDS}

General In-Patient Questions

What are the diet recommendations if I get hospitalized?

• Getting the right amount of nutritious food like plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains is important for health.

• Dietary supplements aren’t meant to treat or prevent COVID-19. Certain vitamins and minerals (e.g., Vitamins C and D, zinc) may have effects on how our immune system works to fight off infections, as well as inflammation and swelling.

• The best way to obtain these nutrients is through foods: Vitamin C in fruits and vegetables, Vitamin D in low-fat milk, fortified milk alternatives, and seafood, and zinc in lean meat, seafood, legumes, nuts, and seeds .

When can I leave the hospital?

• Patients can be discharged from the healthcare facility whenever clinically indicated. Isolation should be maintained at home if the patient returns home before the time period recommended for discontinuation of hospital transmission-based Precautions.

• Decisions to discontinue transmission-based Precautions or in-home isolation can be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with clinicians, infection prevention and control specialists, and public health authorities based upon multiple factors, including disease severity, illness signs and symptoms, and results of laboratory testing for COVID-19 in respiratory specimens.

Can COVID-19 be transmitted via a blood transfusion?

• There is no evidence that coronaviruses are transmissible by blood transfusion. Furthermore, pre-donation screening procedures are designed to prevent donations from people with symptoms of respiratory illnesses.

What are the CDC recommendations for Inpatient facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the infection?

• Place visual alerts, such as signs and posters in appropriate languages, at entrances and in strategic places for hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene (including the use of cloth face coverings), and cough etiquette (Stop the Spread of Germspdf icon).
• Maintain physical distance as much as possible:
  • Use video conferencing and increase workstation spacing.
  • Reduce the number of individuals allowed in common areas such as breakrooms and on elevators.
• Limit visitors to the facility to only those essential for the patient’s physical or emotional well-being and care.
  • Assess visitors for fever and other COVID-19 symptoms before entry to the facility.
  • Instruct all visitors to wear a facemask or cloth face covering while in the facility, perform frequent hand hygiene, and restrict their visit to the patient’s room or other areas designated by the facility.
• Report hospital capacity, patients, supplies and staffing availability, and COVID-19 cases to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) COVID-19 module..
  
  • Hospitals can report daily counts of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, current use and availability of hospital beds and mechanical ventilators, HCP staffing, and supply status and availability.
  • NHSN provides state health departments access to COVID-19 data for hospitals in their jurisdictions.

Do wastewater & sewage workers need additional protection when handling untreated waste from hospitals with COVID-19 patients?

• Wastewater workers should use standard practices including basic hygiene precautions and wear the recommended PPE( Personal Protective Equipment) like goggles, protective face mask or splash-proof face shield,liquid-repellent coveralls, waterproof gloves, rubber boots as prescribed for their current work tasks when handling untreated waste. Basic Hygiene precautions include:
• Washing hands with soap and water immediately after handling human waste or sewage.
  • Avoid touching face, mouth, eyes, nose, or open sores and cuts while handling human waste or sewage.
  • After handling human waste or sewage, wash hands with soap and water before eating or drinking.
  • After handling human waste or sewage, wash hands with soap and water before and after using the toilet.
  • Removing soiled work clothes before eating food and eating in designated areas away from human waste and sewage-handling activities.
  • Not smoking or chewing tobacco or gum while handling human waste or sewage.
  • Keeping open sores, cuts, and wounds covered with clean, dry bandages.
  • Gently flushing eyes with safe water if human waste or sewage contacts eyes.
  • Using waterproof gloves to prevent cuts and contact with human waste or sewage.
  • Wearing rubber boots at the worksite and during transport of human waste or sewage.
  • Removing rubber boots and work clothes before leaving the work site.
  • Cleaning contaminated work clothing daily with 0.05% chlorine solution (1-part household bleach to 100-parts water).

What personal protective equipment should be worn by environment services(EVS) personnel who clean and disinfect rooms of hospitalized SARS-CoV2 patients?

• In general, only essential personnel should enter the room of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Healthcare facilities should consider assigning daily cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces to nursing personnel who will already be in the room providing care to the patient. If this responsibility is assigned to EVS personnel, they should wear all recommended PPE when in the room. PPE should be removed upon leaving the room, immediately followed by performance of hand hygiene.