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- Title
Exposure of hospital healthcare workers to the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).
- Authors
Razvi, Salman; Oliver, Rahima; Moore, Jonathan; Beeby, Andrew
- Abstract
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at higher risk of infection with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and can also amplify outbreaks within healthcare facilities if they become ill. Certain groups are known to be at higher risk of contracting severe COVID-19 infection, such as men and people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. Identifying and managing HCWs who have been exposed to COVID-19 is of utmost importance in preventing healthcare transmission and protecting staff and vulnerable patients in healthcare settings. Recently, antibody testing to diagnose previous COVID-19 exposure among HCW has commenced in the UK. This provided an opportunity to assess exposure to COVID-19 among the various subgroups within the HCW community, based on their roles and ethnic background. We found that HCWs working in patientfacing roles were twice as likely to have been exposed to COVID-19 than their colleagues in non-patient-facing roles. Reassuringly, workers from BAME backgrounds had a similar risk of previous COVID-19 exposure to their white colleagues. More research is required to assess how frontline staff, especially those working in patient facing roles, can reduce their risk of exposure to COVID-19.
- Subjects
ENVIRONMENTAL exposure prevention; RISK factors of environmental exposure; IMMUNOGLOBULIN analysis; BLACK people; HEALTH facility employees; IMMUNOLOGY technique; MEDICAL care; MEDICAL research; MINORITIES; PATIENTS; SEX distribution; OCCUPATIONAL hazards; ENVIRONMENTAL exposure; OCCUPATIONAL roles; PSYCHOSOCIAL factors; COVID-19
- Publication
Clinical Medicine, 2020, Vol 20, Issue 6, pe238
- ISSN
1470-2118
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.7861/clinmed.2020-0566