| Title: | Differential diagnosis of Covid-19 infection in Cork University Hospital: Review of Actual Diagnosis in Covid-19 negative patients |
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| Author(s): | L Walsh E McElduff M Kennedy |
| Institution: | Cork University Hospital |
| Poster: | Click to view poster |
| Category: | COVID-19 |
| Abstract: | Covid-19 has led to a radical change in the way we practise acute hospital medicine. Suspected COVID-19 cases require isolation and a nasopharyngeal swab which is putting pressure on our hospital systems. To establish the underlying diagnosis of suspected but ultimately negative COVID-19 cases and if the patient was appropriately placed on the COVID-19 pathway. We aim to better understand non-covid presentations to an acute hospital during a pandemic. A retrospective analysis of all admissions documented as suspected COVID-19 was carried out using Cork University Hospital’s online system to review discharge summaries (n=402). Patient demographics, symptoms, investigations, and length of stay were collected and analysed. There was an average of 4.37 suspected COVID-19 cases per day. 74.6% of swabs were taken due to respiratory symptoms. 90.8% of patient were correctly placed on the COVID-19 pathway. The average length of stay was 8.7 days. In total, 64.5% of patients had a final diagnosis of a respiratory illness. Those who are admitted with suspected COVID-19 have a huge impact on inpatient numbers and the availability of isolation rooms. In CUH, there was 283 more respiratory related admissions over a 3-month period in 2020 compared with the same period in 2019. |
