The latest Corona outbreak in a nursing home in Karlsfeld has shown how dangerous the virus is: 48 of 129 residents tested positive for Covid-19, 17 residents have died so far, according to the home operator.
Could a rapid antigen test provide protection against such outbreaks in the region's old people's homes in the future?
Those responsible are skeptical.
Dachau
- Last week, what all nursing home operators are currently afraid of occurred in the Karlsfeld house Curanum: the coronavirus reached the facility, which currently has 118 employees and 129 residents, in a previously unknown route.
"Despite the most intensive efforts to trace contact persons", it was "unfortunately not possible to understand" how the outbreak came about, emphasizes spokeswoman Tanja Kurz.
What we do know for sure: The virus has spread rapidly: As of Monday afternoon, according to Kurz, 48 residents and 30 employees tested positive for Covid-19;
nine residents are in the hospital, 17 died, 13 residents and 16 employees are considered to have recovered.
The home is currently in a state of emergency: the facility is under quarantine, visits are no longer possible.
Also the contact with each other: The seniors are no longer allowed to see each other.
“The residents take their meals in the rooms, and group activities are currently not offered.
Instead, our residents receive individual care, ”explains Kurz.
Both relatives and residents would agree with these measures, says Kurz: "They are aware that these are temporary and serve their protection."
But how can you prevent such outbreaks in the future?
In Haus Curanum, it is emphasized that they strictly adhere to a hygiene concept agreed with the authorities: the employees wear mouth and nose protection, the residents receive temperature controls twice a day, and the areas close to the residents are disinfected twice a day.
Nevertheless, emphasizes Kurz, "there is no 100 percent protection against the introduction of the virus".
Other senior home managers see it that way too.
Because, as Silvia Große from the Dachau Friedrich-Meinzolt-Haus puts it: “I never want what happened in March again.
That was unacceptable! ”As a reminder: In March there was a general ban on visiting the old people's homes.
According to Große, “individual residents suffered very, very much.
And it was even worse for the relatives! "
Sandra Emmer from the Senterra care center in Indersdorf also emphasizes that she wants to keep her house open as long as possible.
Basically, however, she says, “nobody can imagine what this situation means for us home managers”.
In order to prevent such outbreaks with rows and rows of infected people and - in the worst case - dead people, the facilities are to carry out so-called antigen rapid tests on employees and residents.
The problem: the tests may only be carried out by trained specialists;
in addition, they are not considered to be particularly reliable, at least for people who do not show any symptoms (see also box below).
Silvia Große from Meinzolt-Haus therefore sees “no relief” in the situation;
In your house, you continue to rely on the existing hygiene concept.
And also in the Curanum house, where since November 9th all employees have to take a quick test before starting work, the procedure is called “a challenge”.
Not only did the medical and nursing staff have to be instructed in the rapid test procedure by the health department;
According to Curanum spokeswoman Kurz, each test “takes around 20 minutes of working time for preparation, implementation and follow-up.
These special tasks are not included in the personnel key of the institutions.
The time for carrying out the tests is therefore lost in day-to-day business ”.
After all: the residents and relatives have so far reacted to the situation with “a lot of understanding”, and there have been no allegations.
For this, says Tanja Kurz, “we would like to take this opportunity to thank you very much.
That is good and gives us strength ”!
On October 15, Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn announced how he wants to avoid bans on visits to care facilities in the future: so-called antigen rapid tests should be the solution!
According to Dr.
Christian Günzel from the Medical Care Center (MVZ) Dachau has the results of the rapid antigen tests after 15 minutes.
For comparison: With the PCR tests that have been used up to now, it can take several days before a result is available.
According to Günzel, the rapid test is suitable for care facilities: this could avoid the social isolation of residents, as existed at the beginning of the pandemic.
However, the procedure also has its weaknesses: The tests may only be carried out by medical specialists who have been trained in advance to carry out the tests.
In many nursing homes, there is a lack of staff and time for this.
In addition, the rapid test is not very reliable in infected people who do not show any symptoms.
According to Günzel, the quick test cannot answer the question "Is someone infected?"
But what it can do: In people with symptoms - if the person tested has a cough or runny nose - the test distinguishes between flu and corona with a 98 percent certainty.
The test, says Günzel, “can keep people who go to work sick out of the facility.
He recognizes super spreaders ”.
Unfortunately, Minister Spahn has not yet made any statements on how this “additional protection” for the homes should be financed, according to Günzel.
So far, according to the doctor from Dachau, homes or the MVZ have offered the rapid tests “at their own expense”