Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on obstetrics and gynecology practice: an Egyptian Tertiary Referral University Hospital experience

Haggag, Hisham; Seleem, Mostafa; Ali, Ahmed Mahmoud; Soliman, Ehab

doi:10.4103/kamj.kamj_27_20

Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on obstetrics and gynecology practice: an Egyptian Tertiary Referral University Hospital experience

Authors

Abstract

Aim
To calculate the workload and infection rates following the strategies implemented for COVID-19 pandemic.
Background
Since its outbreak in Wuhan China, the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 has become devastating, and despite implementation of extensive control measures, it has rapidly spread all over the world. Till now pregnant women do not appear any more likely to acquire Covid-19 infection than the general population. However, standard care is not enough, and additional measures and strategies should be implemented to prevent disease spread to the healthcare providers or other patients especially in the emergency setting.
Methods
We have conducted a retrospective search for the different strategies implemented by Kasr Al-Ainy Ob/Gyn Department followed by calculation of the workload and infection rates following implementation of such plans of action. We traced and collected the protective strategies implemented to ensure control of disease spread.
Results
There was a 11.7 and 24.6% decrease in the number of attending cases and admitted cases, respectively, during the pandemic as compared with the earlier prepandemic period. We also found a change in the number of service providers as well as a change in the facility settings in the emergency department. Adequate spacing between patients’ beds was measured to be at least 3 m and suspected cases were kept in isolation rooms.
Conclusions
The drop in the number of presenting and admitted case was due to lockdown procedures which encouraged the patients to seek nearby health care facilities and avoid going to crowded tertiary centres as ours.

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