The reorganization of the strategies of a surgical department and the nosocomial diffusion of Covid-19

Introduction. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, preventive measures and patients' selection were adopted to allow the treatment of non-deferrable oncological and trauma cases and to contain hospital diffusion of the virus. The reorganization of the ward management associated to the training of healthcare providers are the first available interventions. Aim. To describe the interventions implemented to limit the spread of virus during the peak of pandemic in a high daily turn-over 25 beds surgical ward (9 patient admitted per day/mean duration of hospital stay 2.3 days). Method. Description of the interventions implemented and of the admissions from March 9 to May 18 2020, and the swab results. Results. 392 patients were treated in the period considered (342 were scheduled cases - 50 urgent cases; 364 were adults and 28 children). All scheduled patients underwent a screening survey, 5% of those contacted showed a risk factor at the interview and were rescheduled; 190 patients underwent a preoperative screening swab, all with negative results. None of healthcare providers was positive to swabs. Conclusions. The prompt application of preventive measures and patients screening (preoperative interview and screening swab) possibly allowed to control the spread of SARSCoV2 in our hospital. Sharing our experience would allow to find consensus to guarantee the safety for patients and healthcare workers.