Marzo Aprile 2021 -

Hemodialysis shake-up on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic: the Treviglio Hospital experience

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Simona Zerbi

Simona Zerbi1, Maura Alletto1, Roberta Aloardi1, Stefania Galantucci1, Daniela Palmetti1, Laura Danelli2, Marco Tagliaferri1, Margherita Massazza1, Gigliola Palmerio1, Silvia Cassamali1, Carlo Taietti1, Giuseppe Voddo1, Carla Bonaita1, Emilio G. Galli1

1 Nephrology and Dialysis Unit – Treviglio Hospital – ASST Bergamo Ovest, Italy
2 Psychology Unit – Treviglio Hospital – ASST Bergamo Ovest, Italy

Correspondence to: 
Simona Zerbi
UO Nefrologia e Dialisi
Dipartimento Scienze Mediche
Ospedale di Treviglio - ASST Bergamo Ovest
Piazza Ospedale 1
24047 Treviglio (Bergamo), Italia
Tel. 0363 42450
E-mail: simona.zerbi@tiscali.it

 

Abstract

The new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic in Italy formally started on 21st February 2020, when a 38-years old man was established as the first Italian citizen with Covid-19 in Codogno, Lombardy region. In a few days, the deadly coronavirus swept beyond expectations across the city of Bergamo and its province, claiming thousands of lives and putting the hospital in Treviglio under considerable strain.

Since designated Covid-dialysis hospitals to centrally manage infected hemodialysis patients were not set up in the epidemic areas, we arranged to treat all our patients. We describe the multiple strategies we had to implement fast to prevent/control Covid-19 infection and spread resources in our Dialysis Unit during the first surge of the pandemic in one of the worst-hit areas in Italy. The recommendations provided by existing guidelines and colleagues with significant experience in dealing with Covid-19 were combined with the practical judgement of our dialysis clinicians, nurses and nurse’s aides.

KEYWORDS: COVID-19, hemodialysis, end-stage kidney disease, coronavirus, pandemic.

Introduction

Since December 2019, an outbreak of new coronavirus disease (Covid-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has developed into a global pandemic [1]. Its outburst in Italy officially dates back to February 21st, 2020. In a few days, the number of detected cases increased beyond expectations [2]. The deadly coronavirus swept across the city of Bergamo and its province, claiming thousands of lives and putting the hospital in Treviglio under considerable strain; all departments had to be readapted and most beds were rapidly occupied by infected patients. 

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