Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic: significance of prevention measures against nosocomial transmission of respiratory infections with high prevalence

Bulgarian Medical Journal, 2023, 17(4), 7-13.

V. Vicheva, Y. Mitova-Mineva, V. Doycheva

Department of Epidemiology and Hygiene, Section of Epidemiology, Medical University – Sofia

Abstract. The COVID-19 pandemic has strained the healthcare system and has overburdened the hospitals. Widespread transmission of the virus has significantly affected both patients and personnel in Bulgaria. According to the National COVID-19 Information Portal as of September 7, 2023 there have been 26,547 confirmed cases among medical personnel out of a total of 1,311,118 cases in the country, accounting for 2.02% of healthcare workers. Insights from various studies highlight the need for timely infection prevention and control measures in the hospital environment, which can be achieved through comprehensive healthcare management and a variety of non-pharmacological measures. This review focuses on nosocomial epidemiology of COVID-19 and provides an overview of scientific literature, based on observations and accumulated experience, which underscores the significance of devising more effective prevention strategies for controlling COVID-19 and refining behavioral models for future pandemics.

Key words: COVID-19, prevention and infection control, healthcare facilities, pandemic

Address for correspondence: V. Vicheva, MD, Department of Epidemiology and Hygiene, Section of Epidemiology,
е-mail: v.vicheva@medfac.mu-sofia.bg