tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
BMC Infect Dis
. 2026 Aug 7;26(1):1947.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-026-14127-3.
Iris Ganser 1 , Madelyn Rojas-Castro 1 , Kim Brolin 2 , Zvjezdana Lovrić Makarić 3 , Anneli Uusküla 4 , Colm Bergin 5 6 , Catherine Fleming 7 , Paolo Bonfanti 8 9 , Rita Murri 10 11 , Viesturs Zvirbulis 12 , Dace Zavadska 13 , Konstanty Szuldrzynski 14 , Vânia Gaio 15 , Corneliu Petro Popescu 16 , Mihai Craiu 17 , Raluca-Maria Hrișcă 18 , Maria Cisneros Perez 19 20 21 , Miriam Latorre-Millán 22 , Goranka Petrović 3 , Liis Lohur 23 , Jonathan McGrath 5 , Liam Townsend 5 6 , Anna Spolti 8 9 , Kathleen De Gaetano Donati 10 11 , Ilze Abolina 12 , Dagne Gravele 13 , Ausenda Machado 15 , Simin Aysel Florescu 16 , Mihaela Lazar 24 , Pilar Subirats Cid 25 , Laura Clusa 22 , Gordan Sarajlić 3 , Jacklyn Sui 5 , Claire Kenny 7 , Rosaria Santangelo 10 11 , Dainis Krievins 12 , Elza Anna Bārzdiņa 13 , Camila Valadas Henriques 26 , Alma Gabriela Kosa 16 , Victor Daniel Miron 17 , Săftica-Mariana Pohrib 18 , Carmen Muñoz-Almagro 19 20 21 , Ana Maria Milagro 22 , Anthony Nardone 27 , Sabrina Bacci 2 , Camelia Savulescu 1 ; VEBIS HCW study group
Collaborators, Affiliations Expand
Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) faced increased SARS-CoV-2 infection risk. We aimed to identify factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCWs and assess how their association with infection changed over time to prepare for future similar events.
Methods: We conducted a cohort study among HCWs from 18 European hospitals that completed weekly questionnaires and tested weekly/fortnightly by PCR. We defined separate cohorts for pre-Omicron (May 2021-December 2021), pandemic Omicron (December 2021-April 2023), and post-pandemic Omicron (September 2023-April 2024) periods. Using Cox proportional hazards models, we estimated adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for associations between each exposure and SARS-CoV-2 infection, adjusting for age, sex, underlying conditions, and hospital.
Results: We included 1395, 2056, and 1254 HCWs in the three periods. Median age was 44 years, and 2597 (80%) were female, 740 (22%) medical doctors, 1399 (42%) nurses, 391 (12%) administrative personnel, 113 (3%) ancillary personnel, and 612 (18%) worked in other roles. Compared to medical doctors, ancillary personnel presented the highest risk pre-Omicron (aHR 3.86, 95% CI [1.30, 11.47]). Household contact was the strongest risk factor pre-Omicron (aHR 4.05 95% CI [1.78, 9.19]) but decreased over time.
Conclusions: Household exposure and occupational role were key risk factors, but their effect size decreased over time. Infection prevention strategies should be regularly updated, extending beyond clinical staff and considering household exposure, should similar events occur.
Clinical trial number: Not applicable.
Keywords: Healthcare workers; Infection prevention and control; Occupational exposure; Risk factors; SARS-CoV-2.
. 2026 Aug 7;26(1):1947.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-026-14127-3.
Factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers: a European multicentre cohort study, May 2021-April 2024
Iris Ganser 1 , Madelyn Rojas-Castro 1 , Kim Brolin 2 , Zvjezdana Lovrić Makarić 3 , Anneli Uusküla 4 , Colm Bergin 5 6 , Catherine Fleming 7 , Paolo Bonfanti 8 9 , Rita Murri 10 11 , Viesturs Zvirbulis 12 , Dace Zavadska 13 , Konstanty Szuldrzynski 14 , Vânia Gaio 15 , Corneliu Petro Popescu 16 , Mihai Craiu 17 , Raluca-Maria Hrișcă 18 , Maria Cisneros Perez 19 20 21 , Miriam Latorre-Millán 22 , Goranka Petrović 3 , Liis Lohur 23 , Jonathan McGrath 5 , Liam Townsend 5 6 , Anna Spolti 8 9 , Kathleen De Gaetano Donati 10 11 , Ilze Abolina 12 , Dagne Gravele 13 , Ausenda Machado 15 , Simin Aysel Florescu 16 , Mihaela Lazar 24 , Pilar Subirats Cid 25 , Laura Clusa 22 , Gordan Sarajlić 3 , Jacklyn Sui 5 , Claire Kenny 7 , Rosaria Santangelo 10 11 , Dainis Krievins 12 , Elza Anna Bārzdiņa 13 , Camila Valadas Henriques 26 , Alma Gabriela Kosa 16 , Victor Daniel Miron 17 , Săftica-Mariana Pohrib 18 , Carmen Muñoz-Almagro 19 20 21 , Ana Maria Milagro 22 , Anthony Nardone 27 , Sabrina Bacci 2 , Camelia Savulescu 1 ; VEBIS HCW study group
Collaborators, Affiliations Expand
- PMID: 42983287
- PMCID: PMC13737939
- DOI: 10.1186/s12879-026-14127-3
Abstract
Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) faced increased SARS-CoV-2 infection risk. We aimed to identify factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCWs and assess how their association with infection changed over time to prepare for future similar events.
Methods: We conducted a cohort study among HCWs from 18 European hospitals that completed weekly questionnaires and tested weekly/fortnightly by PCR. We defined separate cohorts for pre-Omicron (May 2021-December 2021), pandemic Omicron (December 2021-April 2023), and post-pandemic Omicron (September 2023-April 2024) periods. Using Cox proportional hazards models, we estimated adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for associations between each exposure and SARS-CoV-2 infection, adjusting for age, sex, underlying conditions, and hospital.
Results: We included 1395, 2056, and 1254 HCWs in the three periods. Median age was 44 years, and 2597 (80%) were female, 740 (22%) medical doctors, 1399 (42%) nurses, 391 (12%) administrative personnel, 113 (3%) ancillary personnel, and 612 (18%) worked in other roles. Compared to medical doctors, ancillary personnel presented the highest risk pre-Omicron (aHR 3.86, 95% CI [1.30, 11.47]). Household contact was the strongest risk factor pre-Omicron (aHR 4.05 95% CI [1.78, 9.19]) but decreased over time.
Conclusions: Household exposure and occupational role were key risk factors, but their effect size decreased over time. Infection prevention strategies should be regularly updated, extending beyond clinical staff and considering household exposure, should similar events occur.
Clinical trial number: Not applicable.
Keywords: Healthcare workers; Infection prevention and control; Occupational exposure; Risk factors; SARS-CoV-2.