Sources of healthcare workers’ COVID‑19 infections and related safety guidelines

• Authors: Lotta-Maria A. Oksanen , Enni Sanmark , Sampo A. Oksanen , Veli-Jukka Anttila , Jussi J. Paterno , Maija Lappalainen , Lasse Lehtonen , Ahmed Geneid

Abstracts

EN

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness of safety guidelines in the workplace, the authors analyzed the work-related exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and the source of COVID‑19 infections among healthcare workers (HCWs), together with the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).Material and MethodsA cross-sectional prospective study was conducted in tertiary hospitals in the Uusimaa region, Finland, with 1072 volunteers being enrolled in the study from among the HCWs at the Helsinki University Hospital. Overall, 866 (80.8%) HCWs (including 588 nurses, 170 doctors, and 108 laboratory and medical imaging nurses) completed the questionnaire by July 15, 2020, with 52% of the participants taking care of COVID‑19 patients. The participants answered a structured questionnaire regarding their use of PPE, the ability to follow safety guidelines, exposure to COVID‑19, and the source of potential COVID‑19 infections. The participants with COVID‑19 symptoms were tested with the SARS-CoV-2 realtime polymerase chain reaction method. All infected participants were contacted, and their answers were confirmed regarding COVID‑19 exposure.ResultsIn total, 41 (4.7%) participants tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, with 22 (53.6%) of infections being confirmed or likely occupational, and 12 (29.3%) originating from colleagues. In 14 cases (63.6%), occupational infections occurred while using a surgical mask, and all infections originating from patients occurred while using a surgical mask or no mask at all. No occupational infections were found while using an FFP2/3 respirator and following aerosol precautions. The combined odds ratio for working at an intensive care unit, an emergency department, or a ward was 3.4 (95% CI: 1.2–9.2, p = 0.016).ConclusionsA high infection rate was found among HCWs despite safety guidelines. Based on these findings, the authors recommend the use of FFP2/3 respirators in all patient contacts with confirmed or suspected COVID‑19, along with the use of universal masking, also in personnel rooms.

Keywords

EN

occupational exposure; health personnel; COVID‑19; masks; N95 respirators; infectious disease transmission

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2021
• Volume: 34
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 239-249

Dates

published

2021

Contributors

author

Lotta-Maria A. Oksanen

• University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland (Faculty of Medicine)
• Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland (Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Phoniatrics – Head and Neck Surgery)

author

Enni Sanmark

• University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland (Faculty of Medicine)
• Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland (Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Phoniatrics – Head and Neck Surgery)

author

Sampo A. Oksanen

• Nordic Healthcare Group, Helsinki, Finland
• Aalto University School of Business, Espoo, Finland

author

Veli-Jukka Anttila

• University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland (Faculty of Medicine)
• Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland (HUS Inflammation Center)

author

Jussi J. Paterno

• Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland (Department of Ophthalmology)
• University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland (Faculty of Medicine)

author

Maija Lappalainen

• University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland (Faculty of Medicine)
• Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland (HUS Diagnostic Center, HUSLAB)

author

Lasse Lehtonen

• University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland (Faculty of Medicine)
• Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland (HUS Diagnostic Center, HUSLAB)

author

Ahmed Geneid

• University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland (Faculty of Medicine)
• Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland (Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Phoniatrics – Head and Neck Surgery)

Identifiers

DOI

10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01741

Biblioteka Nauki

2086080