Table 2:
Infection prevention and control measures implemented by May 31, 2020
| Measure | No. (%) of units | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| All | Distance between stations < 2 m | Distance between stations ≥ 2 m | |
| General measures | |||
| Restriction of visitors | 38 (100) | 15 (100) | 23 (100) |
| Mandatory hand hygiene for patients at entrance | 35 (92) | 15 (100) | 20 (87) |
| Signs for hand hygiene | 32 (84) | 13 (87) | 19 (83) |
| Routine disinfection of all surfaces | 32 (84) | 14 (93) | 18 (78) |
| Mask for patients at all times | 30 (79) | 13 (87) | 17 (74) |
| Screening and triage | |||
| Screening questionnaire on patient arrival | 37 (97) | 15 (100) | 22 (96) |
| Patient temperature measured on arrival | 36 (95) | 14 (93) | 22 (96) |
| All symptomatic patients tested with swabs | 36 (95) | 14 (93) | 22 (96) |
| Patients requested to call ahead if symptomatic | 31 (82) | 13 (87) | 18 (78) |
| Triage post before entry into unit | 28 (74) | 10 (67) | 18 (78) |
| Surveillance swab for asymptomatic patients at high risk* | 24 (63) | 10 (67) | 14 (61) |
| Telephone call the day before to check for symptoms | 14 (37) | 5 (33) | 9 (39) |
| Surveillance swab of all asymptomatic patients | 3 (8) | 1 (7) | 2 (9) |
| Surveillance swab of asymptomatic staff | 3 (8) | 2 (13) | 1 (4) |
| Physical distancing measures | |||
| Plexiglas or other barrier between dialysis stations | 27 (71) | 11 (73) | 16 (70) |
| Separate schedule or location for patients at high risk* | 24 (63) | 8 (53) | 16 (70) |
| Reorganization of stations to maintain physical distance | 21 (55) | 6 (40) | 15 (65) |
| Decrease in hemodialysis frequency for selected patients | 7 (18) | 4 (27) | 3 (13) |
| Personal protective equipment | |||
| Mask for staff at all times while in unit | 38 (100) | 15 (100) | 23 (100) |
| Personal protective equipment teaching sessions | 31 (82) | 12 (80) | 19 (83) |
| Full contact precautions when treating patients at high risk* | 29 (76) | 12 (80) | 17 (74) |
| Ocular protection | |||
| At all times within unit | 13 (34) | 7 (47) | 6 (26) |
| When distance from patient < 2 m | 6 (16) | 1 (7) | 5 (22) |
| Only when caring for patients | 16 (42) | 6 (40) | 10 (43) |
| No policy | 3 (8) | 1 (7) | 2 (9) |
| Measures for patients with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 | |||
| Mask | 38 (100) | 15 (100) | 23 (100) |
| Ocular protection for staff | 38 (100) | 15 (100) | 23 (100) |
| Dialysis in isolation room | 37 (97) | 15 (100) | 22 (96) |
| Physical distancing in waiting room | 36 (95) | 14 (93) | 22 (96) |
| Creation of specific zones in unit | 34 (89) | 13 (87) | 21 (91) |
| COVID-19-specific transportation | 31 (82) | 12 (80) | 19 (83) |
| Measures for patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection | |||
| Separate dialysis schedule | 23 (60) | 11 (73) | 12 (52) |
| Reduction in personnel-to-patient ratio | 19 (50) | 8 (53) | 11 (48) |
| Dialysis in negative-pressure ventilation room | 15 (39) | 5 (33) | 10 (43) |
| Transfer to another unit for dialysis | 14 (37) | 7 (47) | 7 (30) |
*
Includes residents of long-term care facilities and other group-living situations, returning travellers and people with a hospital stay in the previous 14 days.