“Comment on the article titled “Nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 transmission in postoperative infection and mortality: analysis of 14 798 procedures” by Elliott JA et al.

Abstract

Nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 transmission in postoperative infection and mortality assumes great importance given the gradual re-booting of elective surgeries all over the world. It is interesting to see that laparoscopic surgery may be protective for nosocomial transmission of COVID-19 infection owing to reduced duration of hospital stay. For the same reason, the wider application of enhanced recovery after surgery protocols need to be explored. Additionally, now there is a definite need to differentiate COVID-specific deaths (deaths due to complications of COVID-19) from the COVID-related deaths (deaths due to complications of comorbidity or the surgical disease or surgery itself in a COVID-19 positive patient). This is required to identify the real risk of nosocomial infection and the subsequent mortality in elective surgery during this pandemic.