Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 31, 2025
Halogenated Agent Delivery in Porcine Model of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome via an Intensive Care Unit Type Device
Published on: September 24, 2020
Infection control, prophylactic antibiotics, and testing for SARS-CoV-2 and PPE on German intensive care units:
Steffen Dickel1, Clemens Grimm1, Maria Popp2
1Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Insights
German intensive care units (ICUs) showed significant variation in personal protective equipment (PPE) use and antibiotic prophylaxis for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Further studies are recommended to improve guideline adherence in critical care settings.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Critical Care Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Recommendations for hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE), isolation, and antibiotic prophylaxis for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been revised during the pandemic.
- Existing literature suggests a significant evidence gap, potentially leading to varied practices in intensive care units (ICUs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the variance in essential care strategies for COVID-19 patients across German ICUs.
- To assess the adherence to guidelines regarding infection prophylaxis, PPE, and antibiotic use in German ICUs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods online survey was distributed to intensive care specialists in Germany treating COVID-19 patients in December 2020.
- Responses were collected from 205 German ICUs that had managed COVID-19 patients.
Main Results:
- A wide variation in the utilization of personal protective equipment (PPE) was observed among German ICUs.
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was employed by 94.8% of units, with a mean result turnaround time of 12 hours.
- Antibiotic prophylaxis was prescribed to COVID-19 patients by 18.7% of the surveyed ICUs.
Conclusions:
- Significant variability exists in critical care strategies for COVID-19 patients within German ICUs.
- Differences were noted in infection prophylaxis, PPE usage, and the administration of prophylactic antibiotics.
- Further research is warranted to quantify and enhance adherence to established guidelines for COVID-19 patient care in ICUs.
Abstract:
Aim: Recommendations on hygiene measures, personal protective equipment (PPE), isolation, and antibiotic prophylaxis were developed during the coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) pandemic and have been revised several times to date. Some of the underlying literature indicates a large evidence gap. We suspect that this leads to a large variance of measures on German intensive care units (ICU). Methods: A mixed methods online survey among intensive-care specialists in Germany caring for COVID-19 patients was conducted in December 2020. Results: We received responses from 205 German ICUs that had treated COVID-19 patients to date. There was wide variation in the use of PPE. Polymerase Chain reaction (PCR) testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was used by 94.8% of the units, with an average waiting time of 12 hours for the result. 18.7% of the respondents prescribed antibiotic prophylaxis in COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: We found a high variance in essential care strategies for COVID-19 patients on German intensive care units. This included differences in infection prophylaxis, personal protective equipment, and the indication of prophylactic antibiotic therapy. Based on our results, we recommend further studies to quantify and improve guideline adherence.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:26Standard Precaution
Hand hygiene is the most crucial means to prevent the transmission of disease. Employers are legally required to provide their workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure or contact with...
01:25Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
01:20Infection
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
01:17Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
01:23Hand hygiene
Hand washing...