Facility preparedness for an obstetric unit during the Covid-19 pandemic

Natl Med J India. 2020 Nov-Dec;33(6):349-357. doi: 10.4103/0970-258X.321135.

Abstract

Covid-19 infection has placed health systems under unprecedented strain and foresight for preparedness is the key factor to avert disaster. Every facility that provides obstetric service needs a certain level of preparedness to be able to handle at least Covid-suspect pregnant women awaiting test reports, who need to be managed as Covid-positive patients till reports are available. Thus, these facilities need to have triage areas and Covid-suspect labour rooms. Healthcare facilities can have designated areas for Covid-positive patients or have referral linkages with designated Covid-positive hospitals. Preparation includes structural reorganization with setting up a Covid-suspect and Covid-positive facility in adequate space, as well as extensive training of staff about infection control practices and rational use of personal protective equipment (PPE). A systematic approach involving five essential steps of making standard operating procedures, infrastructural reorganization for a triage area and a Covid-suspect labour ward, procurement of PPE, managing the personnel and instituting appropriate infection control practices can ensure uninterrupted services to patients without compromising the safety of healthcare providers.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / diagnosis
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / prevention & control*
  • COVID-19 / virology
  • COVID-19 Testing / standards
  • Disinfection / organization & administration
  • Disinfection / standards
  • Female
  • Health Personnel / education
  • Health Personnel / psychology
  • Health Personnel / standards
  • Humans
  • Infection Control / organization & administration*
  • Infection Control / standards
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / prevention & control
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital / organization & administration*
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital / standards
  • Occupational Stress / prevention & control
  • Occupational Stress / psychology
  • Pandemics / prevention & control
  • Personal Protective Equipment / standards
  • Postnatal Care / organization & administration
  • Postnatal Care / standards
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / prevention & control*
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / virology
  • SARS-CoV-2 / isolation & purification
  • Triage / organization & administration*
  • Triage / standards