Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol . Absenteeism and presenteeism in healthcare workers due to respiratory illness

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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol


. 2020 Nov 26;1-6.
doi: 10.1017/ice.2020.444. Online ahead of print.
Absenteeism and presenteeism in healthcare workers due to respiratory illness


Stefan P Kuster ¹ , J?rg B?ni ² , Roger D Kouyos ¹ , Michael Huber ² , Stefan Schmutz ² , Cyril Shah ² , Heike A Bischoff-Ferrari ³ , Oliver Distler ⁴ , Edouard Battegay ⁵ , Pietro Giovanoli ⁶ , Matthias Guckenberger ⁷ , Malcolm Kohler ⁸ , Rouven M?ller ⁹ , Heidi Petry ¹⁰ , Frank Ruschitzka ¹¹ , Allison McGeer ¹² , Brenda L Coleman ¹² , Hugo Sax ¹ , Rainer Weber ¹ , Alexandra Trkola ²



Affiliations

• PMID: 33239124
• DOI: 10.1017/ice.2020.444

Abstract

Objective: To assess influenza symptoms, adherence to mask use recommendations, absenteesm and presenteeism in acute care healthcare workers (HCWs) during influenza epidemics.
Methods: The TransFLUas influenza transmission study in acute healthcare prospectively followed HCWs prospectively over 2 consecutive influenza seasons. Symptom diaries asking for respiratory symptoms and adherence with mask use recommendations were recorded on a daily basis, and study participants provided midturbinate nasal swabs for influenza testing.
Results: In total, 152 HCWs (65.8% nurses and 13.2% physicians) were included: 89.1% of study participants reported at least 1 influenza symptom during their study season and 77.8% suffered from respiratory symptoms. Also, 28.3% of HCW missed at least 1 working day during the study period: 82.6% of these days were missed because of symptoms of influenza illness. Of all participating HCWs, 67.9% worked with symptoms of influenza infection on 8.8% of study days. On 0.3% of study days, symptomatic HCWs were shedding influenza virus while at work. Among HCWs with respiratory symptoms, 74.1% adhered to the policy to wear a mask at work on 59.1% of days with respiratory symptoms.
Conclusions: Respiratory disease is frequent among HCWs and imposes a significant economic burden on hospitals due to the number of working days lost. Presenteesm with respiratory illness, including influenza, is also frequent and poses a risk for patients and staff.