CONTROVERSY: Claims and Counter-claims over the Test Results of 2 Suspected COVID-19 patients in UBTH.
The NIGERIAN HEALTH BLOG can authoritatively confirm the confusion and controversy brewing at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital right now over the the test results of 2 patients suspected to have contracted coronavirus.
The health workers in the hospital especially the doctors and nurses are not very pleased with the way they are being kept in the dark by the hospital management concerning the COVID-19 status of the said patients which many of them believed showed classical signs and symptoms of the disease.
This view was expressed through a press statement released today by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD UBTH chapter).
This is a press statement by the UBTH chapter of ARD expressing their displeasure.
“*ARD UBTH UPDATE*
*COVID 19 PATIENTS*
Good morning all.
It has been brought to our notice with great dismay that the earlier results of the two suspected COVID -19 cases previously declared *negative* have turned out to be *positive* after further tests.
Whilst the EXCO cannot fully ascertain at this time what may have led to this, it has become imperative at this point to inform our members on the sudden turn of events.
We expect management to issue a statement on the way forward, as this cuts across all members of Staff that have been involved in Management of these Patients.
We have been informed by the Infectious disease team that new samples (from the patient that is still alive)have been taken and sent out for further investigation.
Furthermore we implore our members to remain calm as always, go about their normal duties and to continue to maintain high index of suspicion and ensure standard precautions for All Patients.”
P.R.O
WHY WE ARE WORRIED: “The results of two patients that were highly suspicious to have contracted coronavirus came out negative. Few days after they were removed from isolation, one became worse and died in ICU and the other one was re-tested and results was now positive.”
“The patients were allowed to mingle with other patients in the wards. Doctors and nurses of the hospital are highly worried that they might have been exposed to the virus and they are calling on their members to self-isolate” – A doctor who craved anonymity.
While the fear and anger is growing, the Head of UBTH’s Infectious Disease Unit, Dr. Benson Okwara try to clarify the situation by sheding more light on the issue….👇
*CLARIFICATION*
*UPDATE* *AND* *CLARIFICATION* *ON* *THE* *SUSPECTED* *COVID-19* *PATIENTS* *IN* *UBTH* .
TWO (2) PATIENTS WERE ADMITTED INTO THE MALE MEDICAL WARD (A1) VIA MEDICAL A&E ON MONDAY THE 30TH MARCH 2020.
THE FIRST PATIENT WAS A 35 YEAR OLD MALE (CLERGYMAN) WHOSE INITIAL DIAGNOSIS WAS CKD SECONDARY TO CGN IN URAEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY FOR WHICH HE RECEIVED A SESSION OF HAEMODIALYSIS. SUBSEQUENTLY WITH PRESENCE OF FEVER, COUGH AND DIFFICULTY WITH BREATHING, A SUSPICION OF COVID-19 WAS MADE.
THE 2ND PATIENT IS A 45 YEAR MALE WHO PRESENTED WITH FEVER, COUGH AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH. AN INITIAL DIAGNOSIS OF ATYPICAL PNEUMONIA AND SUSPECTED COVID-19 WAS MADE.
BOTH PATIENTS WERE REVIEWED AND MANAGING TEAMS WERE INFORMED THAT BOTH PATIENTS DID NOT MEET THE CASE DEFINITION FOR COVID-19 SUSPECT.
HOWEVER, TO GIVE BOTH PATIENTS THE OPPORTUNITY OF GETTING THE NEEDED CARE, SAMPLES WERE TAKEN ON THE MORNING OF TUESDAY 31ST MARCH FOR PCR AND SENT TO ISTH IMMEDIATELY.
THE PATIENTS WERE MOVED TO WARD C2 FOLLOWING SAMPLE COLLECTION.
THE PATIENT WITH RENAL DISEASE SUCCUMBED TO HIS ILLNESS ON TUESDAY NIGHT 31ST MARCH 2020.
THE PCR RESULTS OF BOTH PATIENTS RETURNED THIS MORNING (2ND APRIL 2020) AS *NEGATIVE*
THE PATIENT WITH ATYPICAL PNEUMONIA HAS BEEN MOVED BACK TO WARD A1 AND THE RESPIRATORY TEAM IS CONTINUING WITH PATIENT CARE.
THIS IS TO DISPEL RUMOURS MAKING THE ROUNDS THAT UBTH HAS CONFIRMED COVID-19 PATIENTS AND SUCH RUMOURS EVEN STARTED BEFORE THE SAMPLES WERE TAKEN AND SENT TO ISTH.
LET’S ALL ALSO DISCOURAGE ALL FORMS OF UNVERIFIED RUMOURS AND REFRAIN FROM SPREADING UNVERIFIED INFORMATION.
IT IS ALSO PERTINENT TO STATE HERE THAT ADEQUATE AND PROPER HISTORY TAKING OF PATIENTS PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS IN ADDITION TO USING CRITERIA FOR CASE DEFINITION IS VERY KEY SO AS NOT TO UNDULY/WRONGLY LABEL PATIENTS AS COVID-19 SUSPECTS.
STANDARD IPC PROCEDURES AND *APPROPRIATE* USE OF PPEs ARE ALWAYS ADVOCATED AT ALL TIMES FOR ALL PATIENTS.
THANK YOU.
DR. BENSON OKWARA
HEAD RAPID RESPONSE TEAM
The Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Prof Darlington Obaseki, steps in, orders for immediate re-testing.
The UBTH management has received conflicting results on the COVID-19 status of two of our patients.
Another sample has been collected for confirmation.
While we await this result, the patient has been moved to the Isolation Ward for continued management.
Contact tracing has been commenced for all staff who had direct contact with the patient.
Terminal disinfection has been mandated for all places the patient was managed.
The patient has continued to improve clinically, vital signs remain stable and his SPO2 has ranged between 92-94%.
Management enjoins everyone to remain calm and continue to observe the necessary standard precautions.
Please continue to comply with all prior advisories issued by management. These will be regularly updated as needed.
Professor D. E. Obaseki
Chief Medical Director.
You will be updated as events unfolds.
Well done