Infection Control Practices in In-Center Hemodialysis Units During Wave 1 of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ontario, Canada: Research Letter.

The renal system in Ontario was able to respond quickly within the first 2 months of the pandemic to minimize the spread of COVID-19 within in-center hemodialysis units. Through provincial teleconferences, infection control practices were shared across the province as the pandemic and hemodialysis unit responses evolved. This supported renal programs to advocate locally if their hospital was lagging in practices felt to be of value in other hemodialysis units. Although no direct correlation can be made regarding the implementation of infection control practices within in-center hemodialysis units and the number of COVID-19 cases in this population, the limited number of outbreaks in hemodialysis units may have been influenced by the proactive response of renal programs. Practices described in this article may support management and response to subsequent waves of COVID-19 or future similar infectious diseases.