Clinico-epidemiological profile of COVID-19 among health care workers from a tertiary care hospital

Authors

  • Anuradha Tolpadi Department of Microbiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth (DTU) Medical College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0111-4379
  • Abhijeet Mane Department of Microbiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth (DTU) Medical College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6007-6942
  • Jitendra Oswal Department of Pediatrics, Bharati Vidyapeeth (DTU) Medical College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India
  • Sujata Rege Infectious Disease, Bharati Hospital and Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6708-987X
  • Meera Modak Department of Microbiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth (DTU) Medical College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India
  • Sujitkumar Landge Infection Control, Bharati Hospital and Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India
  • Asmita Gade Infection Control, Bharati Hospital and Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India
  • Reshma Tanpure Infection Control, Bharati Hospital and Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3933.ijam20212812

Keywords:

COVID-19 infection, SARS-CoV-2, Infection control, Health care worker

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global health issue. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are especially vulnerable to infection by SARS-CoV-2. The present study was conducted to determine the proportion of HCWs infected with COVID 19 in a tertiary care centre with emphasis on the epidemiological and clinical aspect

Methods: HCWs (symptomatic and asymptomatic contacts) who tested positive for COVID-19 by SARS-CoV-RTPCR or COVID-19 rapid antigen test were included in the study. Demographic and clinical data of the infected HCWs was obtained through a detailed telephonic interview with structured questionnaire.

Results: Out of total 921 HCWs tested for COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR and Rapid antigen test), 323 (35%) HCWs were positive. Proportion of COVID-19 positive HCWs among all HCWs was 13.67% (323/2362). Most COVID-19 positive HCWs (88%) were symptomatic. Majority of infected HCWs (62.23%) were between the age group of 21-30 years. Nurses were the most predominantly affected among various categories of HCWs (42.41%). Fever was the most common presenting symptom, seen in 160 (49.50%) HCWs. Comorbidities were found in 28 (8.66%) of infected HCWs. Majority of HCWs (86%) suffered from mild infection.

Conclusions: HCWs, especially nurses, face a high risk of COVID-19 infection while providing care for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients. It is important to characterize the epidemiological and clinical profile of HCWs regarding COVID-19 for formulation of prevention and management strategies.

Author Biographies

Anuradha Tolpadi, Department of Microbiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth (DTU) Medical College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology

Abhijeet Mane, Department of Microbiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth (DTU) Medical College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology

Jitendra Oswal, Department of Pediatrics, Bharati Vidyapeeth (DTU) Medical College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Professor, Department of Paediatrics

Sujata Rege, Infectious Disease, Bharati Hospital and Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Consultant, Infectious Diseases Department

Meera Modak, Department of Microbiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth (DTU) Medical College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Professor, Department of Microbiology

Sujitkumar Landge, Infection Control, Bharati Hospital and Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Infection Control Nurse, Infection Control Department

Asmita Gade, Infection Control, Bharati Hospital and Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Infection Control Nurse, Infection Control Department

Reshma Tanpure, Infection Control, Bharati Hospital and Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Infection Control Nurse, Infection Control Department

References

Zhu N, Zhang D, Wang W, Li X, Yang B. A novel corona virus from patients with pneumonia in China. 2019. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(8):727-33.

World Health Organization. WHO Director–General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19-11March 2020. Available at: http://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/whodirecor-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the -media-briefing -on covid-19---11–march-2020. Accessed on March 17, 2020.

Wikipedia. Coronavirus Pandemic in India, 2020. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index. php?title=2020coronaviruspandem_India&oldid=950858032. Accessed on 1 June 2021.

Li Q, Guan X, Wu P, Wang X, Zhou L. Early transmission dynamics in Wuhan, China, of novel coronavirus–infected pneumonia. N Eng j Med. 2020;382(13):1199-207.

Dave M, Vijayvargiya R, Poswal L, Bedi V, Sharma M. Study of COVID -19 seroprevalence among healthcare workers at dedicated COVID hospital in southern Rajasthan. Indian J Clin practice. 2020;31(2):107-11.

Wang D, Hu C, Zhu F, Liu X, Zhang J. Clinical characteristics of 138 hospitalized patients with 2019 novel coronavirus–infected pneumonia in Wuhan, China. JAMA. 2020;323:1061-9.

Lou Y, Trevathan E, Qian Z, Li Y, Li J.Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in household contacts of a healthcare provider, Wuhan, China. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020;26:8.

Wee LE, Sim XYJ, Conceicao EP, Aung MK, Goh JQ et al. Containment of COVID -19 cases among healthcare workers: the role of surveillance, early detection, and outbreak management, Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2020;11:1-7.

Gracia S, Lopez MJ, Vicente A, Abascal P. SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers in a hospital in Madrid, Spain. J Hospital infection. 2020;106:357-63.

WHO. Clinical management of severe acute respiratory infection when novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection is suspected. Available at: https:// www.who.int/internal-publications-detail/ clinical-management-of-severe-acute-respiratory-infection-when-novel-coronavirus-(ncov)-infection-is-suspected. Accessed on 10 Jan 2020.

Al Maskari Z, Al Blush A, Khamis F, Tai A, Sami I. Characteristics of healthcare workers infected with COVID-19: A cross sectional observational study. Int J Infectious Diseases. 2021;102:32-6.

Behera V, Srivastava PK, Jayaramchandran J, Ray S, Hande V, Mathai S. COVID-19 in healthcare workers: A review of existing literature. J Mar Med Soc. 2020;22:S36-45.

Wang X, Liu W, Zhao J, Lu Y, Yu C et al. Clinical characteristics of 80 hospitalized frontline medical workers infected with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China. J Hospital Infect. 2020;105:399-403.

Zheng L, Wang X, Zhou C, Liu Q, Li S et al. Analysis of the infection status of healthcare workers in Wuhan during the COVID-19 outbreak: A cross-sectional study. 2020;71(16):2109-13.

Fusco FM, Pisaturo M, Iodice V, Bellopede R, Tambaro O et al. COVID-19 among healthcare workers in a specialist infectious disease setting in Naples, southern Italy: results of a cross –sectional surveillance study. J Hospital Infection. 2020;105;296-600

Banerjee A, Mukherjee K, Bhattacharjee D, Garai D, Chakraborty R. Status of Health-care workers in relation to COVID-19 infection: A retrospective study in a level 4 COVID hospital in eastern India. JAPI. 2020.

Chen T, Li G, Liu H, Wan W, Zheng H, Chen C. Clinical characteristics of 132 healthcare worker cases with COVID‐19: A retrospective study from a single center in Wuhan, China. J Med Virol. 2021;93:1631‐8.

Marjolein FQ, Kluytmans V, Anton G. Prevelence and clinical presentation of health care workers with symptoms of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in 2 Dutch Hospitals during an early phase of the pandemic. JAMA. 2020:e209673.

Bandyopadhay S, Baticulon RE, Kadhum M. Infection and mortality of healthcare workers worldwide from COVID-19: a systematic review. BMJ Global Health. 2020;5:e003097.

Downloads

Published

2021-07-23

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles