A critical appraisal of COVID-19 as a nosocomial infection: an African perspective

Pan Afr Med J. 2020 Aug 20:36:310. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2020.36.310.25010. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

The pandemic of Coronavirus disease 19 is not abating since the outbreak began in December 2019. Africa is currently experiencing a surge after an initial low incidence and nosocomial infections could be contributing to this. A dominant factor responsible for this is a weak healthcare system because of many years of neglect due to abysmal budgetary allocation to the sector. The testing capacity for COVID-19 diagnosis in Africa is grossly inadequate coupled with a severe shortage of personal protective equipment and inadequate infectious diseases expert. These factors exposed the frontline health workers and patients to the hazard of nosocomial infection with the attendants´ morbidity and mortality. Deliberate efforts need to be made toward reducing nosocomial COVID-19 infection.

Keywords: Africa; COVID-19; nosocomial.

MeSH terms

  • Africa / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • COVID-19 / transmission
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology*
  • Cross Infection / transmission
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional
  • Medically Underserved Area*
  • Pandemics
  • SARS-CoV-2*