Report: Hospital procedures may have worsened outbreak

BREMERTON, Wash. (AP) - Aerosol-generating procedures may have contributed to the spread of the coronavirus at a Bremerton hospital, which has confirmed at least 70 infections, according to a new report from the state Department of Health.

According to the findings, the outbreak at St. Michael Medical Center - one of CHI Franciscan’s 10 hospitals in Washington - could possibly be traced to procedures performed on asymptomatic COVID-19 patients, The Seattle Times reported.

The report, which said 54 cases had been confirmed when the findings were finalized, also said hospital staff were using personal protective equipment (PPE) longer than recommended by current national guidelines.

The report also cites the timing of room turnover as another possible reason for exposure.

“Some staff present for (aerosol generating procedures) were not wearing N95s, only surgical masks and eye protection,” the report said. “Shorter than recommended room turnover may have exposed patients and staff.”

While it wasn’t immediately clear what kinds of procedures were potentially at fault at St. Michael, aerosol-generating procedures often include intubation, extubation, transesophageal echocardiography or endoscopy, according to University of Washington Medicine. It was also not immediately clear from hospital officials Thursday why PPE had been used for longer periods than recommended.

The report, finalized over the past week, also identified several areas “requiring immediate action,” including considering admitting oncology patients to hospitals without outbreaks, prioritizing testing staff members with the most vulnerable patients and providing additional staffing resources to assist with employee case investigations and infection prevention.

“We sincerely value our ongoing partnership with the Washington State Department of Health and Kitsap County Public Health as we continue to care for our patients and staff during the recent outbreak of COVID-19 at St. Michael Medical Center,” wrote Cary Evans, CHI Franciscan vice president for communication and government affairs, in a statement Thursday. “We are working to address any concerns in implementing CDC and state guidelines.”