Pneumonia outbreak at Iturasp Hospital in Santa Fe

The provincial health ministry reported that six cases of pneumonia had been detected at the hospital in the provincial capital Ituraspe and that although the cause had not yet been identified, they were related to each other. All correspond to intensive care unit staff.

Dr. Carolina Cudós, director of epidemiology in Santa Fe, told El Litoral that “there was an outbreak of pneumonia in one of the closed wards of the Hospital in Ituraspe, specifically the intensive care unit. There were six hospital staff there” were tested positive for pneumonia. What we know is that these individuals began to experience some non-specific symptoms a short while ago and it was only yesterday that those symptoms were determined to be pneumonia.”

He added: “Three people are currently receiving treatment in the hospital. Another person was sent to a private nursing home, and two have been discharged and are doing well at home.”

It is worth noting that people admitted to the intensive care unit do not enter the intensive care unit because of their serious illness, but because they need to be isolated. The same goes for people in the private sphere. She was isolated in the common room because the cause of the pneumonia was unknown and she was required to be in isolation.

Asked whether the coronavirus could be the causative agent of pneumonia, the official responded “of course not.” “All pathogens that may cause pneumonia are being investigated and may reflect the same characteristics these people have,” he said. And dengue? “It’s going to be weird,” he noted.

Six cases of pneumonia had acute onset, manifested as fever, headache, myalgia and other symptoms, without respiratory symptoms, and lasted about 10 days; they were diagnosed on February 29.

To determine the possible origin of the outbreak, an epidemiological investigation of the cases was quickly initiated, which included cross-referencing data from shared work schedules and spaces to determine the possibility of a common origin, as well as environmental investigations.

Different viral and bacterial preparations were analyzed in a central laboratory. Respiratory tract, serum and urine samples will also be sent to the National Authority for Laboratories and Health Institutions (ANLIS). Carlos Malbrán” aims to expand diagnostic analysis.

In the meantime, intensive care unit staff are urged to implement precautionary measures, use full protective equipment and alert guidance to allow prompt reporting of symptoms. Visits to this part of the hospital are temporarily restricted, staff turnover has been reduced as much as possible and admissions of new patients in affected areas have been suspended.

Finally, when asked when the causative agent of the six cases of pneumonia would be known, Carolina Kudos said, “It’s impossible to say for sure because it depends on many factors.”