Epidemiological approach in a long-term care facility for the elderly with antecedent of COVID-19 outbreak

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: During the coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19), elderly people in long-term care facilities and their health workers constitute a vulnerable subpopulation with a high risk of hospitalization and death. The objective is to describe  the epidemiological approach carried out in a long-term care facility for older adults under active surveillance, in the Mar del  Plata-Batán urban area, on December 2020. METHODS: The approach strategy combined the indication to isolate suspected  cases, perform RT-PCR and detection of IgG antibodies. RESULTS: 4 detectable results were obtained by RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2  corresponding to health workers; only one had a history of RT-PCR detection during the initial outbreak that occurred 95 days  previously; results in residents were undetectable. There were 40 cases with IgG type antibodies (63.5%); 12 (30%) had no  history of detection by RT-PCR in any of the outbreaks. DISCUSSION: Findings indicate that having had a first outbreak episode  at the facility conferred immunity on people who had no clinical signs of the disease, possibly preventing the second outbreak  from spreading among residents.