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