tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
. 2020 Jun 2;194599820932162.
doi: 10.1177/0194599820932162. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Health Care Workers: Cross-sectional Analysis of an Otolaryngology Unit
Alberto Paderno[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Milena Fior[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Giulia Berretti[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Alberto Schreiber[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Alberto Grammatica[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Davide Mattavelli[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Alberto Deganello[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
The restart of routine in- and outpatient activity in the COVID-19 postepidemic peak needs to be carefully planned in light of specific patterns of viral diffusion. We evaluated SARS-CoV-2 serology in the entire personnel of a COVID-19-free otolaryngology department in a highly affected area. The aim was to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 positivity among staff to clarify the impact of different risk factors for infection. The entire staff of the otolaryngology unit was tested for SARS-CoV-2 serology. Symptomatic staff members were tested with nasal/pharyngeal swabs. All answered a survey focused on the number of in- and extrahospital positive contacts and type of activities in the unit. Five (9%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The only variable associated with a higher risk of infection was the number of extrahospital contacts without personal protective equipment (P = .008). Our study shows that in non-COVID-19 departments, the use of adequate personal protective equipment leads to low rates of infection among health care workers. The prevalent risk of infection was related to extrahospital contact.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus; hospital; infection; otolaryngology.
. 2020 Jun 2;194599820932162.
doi: 10.1177/0194599820932162. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Health Care Workers: Cross-sectional Analysis of an Otolaryngology Unit
Alberto Paderno[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Milena Fior[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Giulia Berretti[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Alberto Schreiber[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Alberto Grammatica[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Davide Mattavelli[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Alberto Deganello[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 32482123
- DOI: 10.1177/0194599820932162
Abstract
The restart of routine in- and outpatient activity in the COVID-19 postepidemic peak needs to be carefully planned in light of specific patterns of viral diffusion. We evaluated SARS-CoV-2 serology in the entire personnel of a COVID-19-free otolaryngology department in a highly affected area. The aim was to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 positivity among staff to clarify the impact of different risk factors for infection. The entire staff of the otolaryngology unit was tested for SARS-CoV-2 serology. Symptomatic staff members were tested with nasal/pharyngeal swabs. All answered a survey focused on the number of in- and extrahospital positive contacts and type of activities in the unit. Five (9%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The only variable associated with a higher risk of infection was the number of extrahospital contacts without personal protective equipment (P = .008). Our study shows that in non-COVID-19 departments, the use of adequate personal protective equipment leads to low rates of infection among health care workers. The prevalent risk of infection was related to extrahospital contact.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus; hospital; infection; otolaryngology.