The influence of sporadic cases of COVID-19 on the work of Transfusion Department and its countermeasures

Abstract

Objective To analyze the impact of sporadic cases of COVID-19 on the work of Transfusion Department, so as to explore the countermeasures. Methods The admission of inpatient departments, the reception of outpatient(including emergency) departments, the workload of transfusion department(including blood typing, unexpected antibody screening and cross matching), and the consumption of blood components in the Xijing Hospital between October and November in 2021, during COVID-19 outbreak, were collected. All the above data was statistically compared to the data in same period in 2018, before the COVID-19 outbreak. Results Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, there was a significant decrease in number of inpatients(280±157.1 vs 340.4±110.2), outpatient(including emergency)(8 359±3 615 vs 10 151±3 225), the workload of blood typing(272.0±132.4 vs 341.6±110.4), unexpected antibody screening(78.26±42.22 vs 98.51±43.53) and crossmatch(237.2±99 vs 475.7±155.6), as well as the consumption(U) of all blood components(457.9±50.32 vs 579.4±62.51) in the Xijing Hospital(P<0.05). In detail, the epidemic had the most direct impact on the number of inpatients and outpatients, which shrank continuously on the 2nd day after official announcement of the new COVID-1 cases. While the workload of blood typing, unexpected antibody screening and crossmatch decreased slightly, with a lag, usually on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th day after official announcement. The decrease of the usage of red blood cells and plasma began from the 7th day after the new epidemic to the 6th day after the end of the epidemic. However, the usage platelets and cryoprecipitate coagulation factors decreased from the 8th and 10th day after the new epidemic to the 2nd and 6th day after the end of the epidemic, respectively. Conclusion The daily work of Blood Transfusion Department has been seriously affected by sporadic COVID-19 epidemic. The working mode, staff structure and inventory ratio of blood components should be adjusted and optimized instantly to maintain the normal conduct of medical treatments in hospitals and ensure the safety of patients.

Keywords

• covid-19 epidemic
• pandemic prevention and control
• blood transfusion department
• pandemic impact
• pandemic response