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High numbers of COVID-19 patients transit through non-COVID wards, and associated healthcare workers have high infection rates: An observational cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT: Infection risk is high in healthcare workers working with COVID-19 patients but the risk in non-COVID clinical environments is less clear. We measured infection rates early in the pandemic by SARS-CoV-2 antibody and/or a positive PCR test in 1118 HCWs within various hospital environments with particular focus on non-COVID clinical areas. Infection risk on non-COVID wards was estimated through the surrogate metric of numbers of patients transferred from a non-COVID to a COVID ward. Staff infection rates increased with likelihood of COVID exposure and suggested high risk in non-COVID clinical areas (non patient-facing 23.2% versus patient-facing in either non-COVID environments 31.5% or COVID wards 44%). High numbers of patients admitted to COVID wards had initially been admitted to designated non-COVID wards (22-48% at peak). Infection risk was high during a pandemic in all clinical environments and non-COVID designation may provide false reassurance. Our findings support the need for common personal protective equipment standards in all clinical areas, irrespective of COVID/non-COVID designation.

SUBMITTER: Nallamilli S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9581418 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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High numbers of COVID-19 patients transit through non-COVID wards, and associated healthcare workers have high infection rates: An observational cross-sectional study.

Nallamilli Susanna S Patel Tejus T Buazon April A Vidler Jennifer J Norton Sam S Atta Mustafa M Galloway James J Bowcock Stella S

PloS one 20221019 10

Infection risk is high in healthcare workers working with COVID-19 patients but the risk in non-COVID clinical environments is less clear. We measured infection rates early in the pandemic by SARS-CoV-2 antibody and/or a positive PCR test in 1118 HCWs within various hospital environments with particular focus on non-COVID clinical areas. Infection risk on non-COVID wards was estimated through the surrogate metric of numbers of patients transferred from a non-COVID to a COVID ward. Staff infectio ...[more]

PMID: 36260597

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Project description:Highlights • 4.3% of our hospital HCWs were infected with COVID 19 during the study period.• There was no significant difference between hospital and community acquisition of the infection with age, nationality, or presence of co-morbidities.• There was a significant difference between hospital and community-acquired concerning HCWs categories, gender and being at risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the hospital.• 78% of the infected HCWs had no chronic diseases and all had an uneventful recovery. Introduction Corona Virus Disease 19 (COVID-19) is a new emerging infectious disease that was first identified in China, in December 2020 which is caused by SARS-CoV-2. This study describes the characteristics healthcare workers (HCWs) who tested positive for COVID-19 in a tertiary care hospital in Oman. Method a cross-sectional descriptive analysis of COVID-19 infected HCWs. Results During the study period, 204 HCWs were tested positive for COVID-19 by rRT-PCR test with a test positivity rate of 21.2% and the percentage of infected hospital staff was 4.3%. The mean age was 36 years, 2.2% of the male staff were infected while 9.3% of the female staff got infected. Among the clinicians, 4.7% were infected and among the nurses, 4.1% were infected. 61.3% (125) of infection were community acquired followed by hospital acquisition 25.5% (52) and no source was identified in 13.2% (27). There was a significant difference between hospital acquired and community acquired COVID-19 infection between different HCWs categories (p?<?0.001), gender (p?=?0.041) and being at risk of COVID 19 exposure in the hospital (p?<?0.001). There were no significant differences in relation to nationality (p?=?0498), age (p?=?0.119) or presence of co-morbidities (p?=?0.326). 78% (n?=?160) had no chronic diseases, presented with ARI and fever 44% (n?=?90) and all had uneventful full recovery. The peak of infection acquisition was after Eid AL Fiter Festival. Conclusion HCWs are at an increased risk of COVID-19 infection at the workplace. Strengthening the infection control measures to prevent exposures from infected patients or colleagues and reduce the spread of COVID- 19 is a necessity.

Project description:ObjectiveTo establish the prevalence, risk factors and implications of suspected or confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection among healthcare workers in the United Kingdom (UK).DesignCross-sectional observational study.SettingUK-based primary and secondary care.ParticipantsHealthcare workers aged ≥18 years working between 1 February and 25 May 2020.Main outcome measuresA composite endpoint of laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, or self-isolation or hospitalisation due to suspected or confirmed COVID-19.ResultsOf 6,152 eligible responses, the composite endpoint was present in 1,806 (29.4%) healthcare workers, of whom 49 (0.8%) were hospitalised, 459 (7.5%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, and 1,776 (28.9%) reported self-isolation. Overall, between 11,870 and 21,158 days of self-isolation were required by the cohort, equalling approximately 71 to 127 working days lost per 1,000 working days. The strongest risk factor associated with the presence of the primary composite endpoint was increasing frequency of contact with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases without adequate personal protective equipment (PPE): 'Never' (reference), 'Rarely' (adjusted odds ratio 1.06, (95% confidence interval: [0.87-1.29])), 'Sometimes' (1.7 [1.37-2.10]), 'Often' (1.84 [1.28-2.63]), 'Always' (2.93, [1.75-5.06]). Additionally, several comorbidities (cancer, respiratory disease, and obesity); working in a 'doctors' role; using public transportation for work; regular contact with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients; and lack of PPE were also associated with the presence of the primary endpoint. A total of 1,382 (22.5%) healthcare workers reported lacking access to PPE items while having clinical contact with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases.ConclusionsSuspected or confirmed COVID-19 was more common in healthcare workers than in the general population and is associated with significant workforce implications. Risk factors included inadequate PPE, which was reported by nearly a quarter of healthcare workers. Governments and policymakers must ensure adequate PPE is available as well as developing strategies to mitigate risk for high-risk healthcare workers during future COVID-19 waves.

Dataset Information

High numbers of COVID-19 patients transit through non-COVID wards, and associated healthcare workers have high infection rates: An observational cross-sectional study.

Publications

High numbers of COVID-19 patients transit through non-COVID wards, and associated healthcare workers have high infection rates: An observational cross-sectional study.

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