PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Ponsford, Mark J
AU  - Jefferies, Rhys
AU  - Davies, Chris
AU  - Farewell, Daniel
AU  - Humphreys, Ian R
AU  - Jolles, Stephen
AU  - Fairbairn, Sara
AU  - Lewis, Keir
AU  - Menzies, Daniel
AU  - Benjamin, Amit
AU  - Thaivalappil, Favas
AU  - Williams, Chris
AU  - Barry, Simon M
TI  - Burden of nosocomial COVID-19 in Wales: results from a multicentre retrospective observational study of 2508 hospitalised adults
AID  - 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2021-216964
DP  - 2021 Dec 01
TA  - Thorax
PG  - 1246--1249
VI  - 76
IP  - 12
4099  - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/76/12/1246.short
4100  - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/76/12/1246.full
SO  - Thorax2021 Dec 01; 76
AB  - The burden of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infection remains poorly defined. We report on the outcomes of 2508 adults with molecularly-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 admitted across 18 major hospitals, representing over 60% of those hospitalised across Wales between 1 March and 1 July 2020. Inpatient mortality for nosocomial infection ranged from 38% to 42%, consistently higher than participants with community-acquired infection (31%–35%) across a range of case definitions. Those with hospital-acquired infection were older and frailer than those infected within the community. Nosocomial diagnosis occurred a median of 30 days following admission (IQR 21–63), suggesting a window for prophylactic or postexposure interventions, alongside enhanced infection control measures.