코로나바이러스감염증-19 대응을 위한 투석환자 감염관리

Abstract

The effects of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) on patients with chronic kidney disease have not yet been fully studied, but acute kidney damage has been reported in some COVID- 19 patients. Hemodialysis is an essential treatment for patients with chronic kidney disease and they receive treatment for extended periods of time in congested spaces such as artificial kidney rooms. Because suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients must visit medical institutions regularly for dialysis treatment, it is necessary to take efficient and safe infection control measures to prevent infections from spreading to medical staff or other patients during hemodialysis. Due to artificial kidney rooms receiving a high number of patients for outpatient treatment, it is important to assess the patients before admission. Therefore, a monitoring system is needed to check the epidemiological relevance and possible symptoms of COVID-19. Even if they are not epidemiologically related to COVID-19, patients with fever or respiratory symptoms should receive treatment in isolation rooms, while patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection should use negative-pressure isolation rooms. The medical staff participating in dialysis treatment for COVID-19 patients should wear appropriate personal protective equipment and provide specific guidelines for equipment, environmental, and waste management according to institutional circumstances.