Envigor’s Nick Loudon has drawn our attention to new findings that could have an impact on how operators manage their infection control and PPE procedures.
An analysis published in The Lancet has concluded that there is potential for faecal-oral transmission of COVID-19 – well after someone may have tested negative for the virus.
Their review of 35 studies found that even though respiratory tract symptoms are the most commonly reported symptoms in COVID-19, the gastrointestinal tract and liver might also be affected.
Around 10% of patients presented with gastrointestinal symptoms without any respiratory symptoms.
“These patients were more likely to have a delayed diagnosis, leading to potential problems for themselves and individuals with whom they came into contact,” the paper concludes.
Another study found that 55% of patients who had COVID-19 positive faecal samples that remained positive for a mean of 27.9 days, compared to the respiratory samples of the same patients which were only positive for a mean of 16.7 days.
The researchers say the results suggest in some patients, even though COVID-19 may be cleared in the respiratory tract, the virus continues to replicate in the gastrointestinal tract and could be shed in faeces.
Nick has sent the research to his staff to warn them of the potential risk for staff supporting residents who are incontinent and may have been cleared of COVID-19 – you should consider doing the same.
