Challenges to the infection control team during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in a quaternary-care medical center in Saudi Arabia

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Hala A Amer, King Saud Hospital Riyadh; Ibrahim A Alowidah, King Saud Hospital Riyadh; Chasteffi Bugtai, King Saud Hospital Riyadh; Barbara M Soule, The Joint Commission; Ziad Memish, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2022-02-19
• Publisher: Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2021
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/ice.2021.72
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
• Volume: 43
• Issue: 2
• Start Page: 224
• End Page: 231
• Grant/Funding Information: No financial support was provided relevant to this article.
• Keywords: Humans; Saudi Arabia; SARS-CoV-2; Infection Control; Pandemics; COVID-19
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

Abstract Background: King Saud Medical City (KSMC) is a quaternary care center based in the center of the capital city, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and it is one of the key Ministry of Health (MoH) facilities dedicated to the care of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in the central region. Methods: A comprehensive surge plan was promptly launched in mid-March 2020 to address the pandemic, and it expanded in a phase-wise approach. Supporting the capacity of the infection prevention and control department (IPCD) was a main pillar of the surge plan. Task force infection control teams were formed to tackle the different aspects of pandemic containment processes. The challenges and measures undertaken by the IPC team are described here. Conclusion: Infection prevention and control staff are frontline responders in public health emergencies like COVID-19, and a solid infection prevention and control system in the healthcare setting supported by qualified and sufficient manpower, a well-developed multidisciplinary team approach, electronic infrastructure, and efficient supply utilization are required for effective crisis management.