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Tracheostomies of Patients With COVID-19: A Survey of Infection Reported by Health Care Professionals

Constance S Harrell Shreckengost1, Limeng Wan2, Alexandra W Reitz3

  • 1Constance S. Harrell Shreckengost is a resident physician, Department of Surgery, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.

American Journal of Critical Care : an Official Publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
|September 6, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Performing tracheostomies on COVID-19 patients did not increase health care professional (HCP) infection risk. However, HCPs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face higher infection risks.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health
  • Surgical Procedures

Background:

  • Health care professionals (HCPs) performing tracheostomies on COVID-19 patients may face elevated infection risks.
  • Understanding factors contributing to HCP COVID-19 infection is crucial for patient safety and healthcare system resilience.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the factors associated with COVID-19 infection among HCPs.
  • To determine if performing tracheostomies on COVID-19 patients correlates with increased infection rates for the performing HCPs.

Main Methods:

  • An international, anonymous survey was conducted from November 2020 to July 2021.
  • Data were collected from HCPs across hospitals, universities, and professional organizations.
  • Infection rates were compared between HCPs who performed tracheostomies on COVID-19 patients and those who did not.

Main Results:

  • Out of 361 respondents from 33 countries, 50% had performed tracheostomies on COVID-19 patients.
  • Performing tracheostomies on COVID-19 patients was not significantly associated with increased HCP infection (P = .13).
  • Working in a low- or middle-income country (LMIC) was significantly associated with increased HCP infection (P = .001).

Conclusions:

  • Tracheostomies can be performed safely on COVID-19 patients with appropriate precautions, as the procedure itself was not linked to higher infection rates.
  • HCPs in LMICs experience a higher risk of COVID-19 infection, highlighting disparities in healthcare safety.
  • Further research and targeted interventions are needed to mitigate infection risks for HCPs in resource-limited settings.
Abstract

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