We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
The epidemiology and dynamics of COVID-19 disease transmission among healthcare workers of a tertiary healthcare setting in India.
- Authors
Singh, Mahendra; Dhankar, Anushikha; Sharma, Megha; Agarwal, Shreya; Panda, Prasan; Bahurupi, Yogesh; Aggarwal, Pradeep
- Abstract
Context: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that has emerged as a pandemic now has put health care workers (HCWs) at great risk as they are the warriors in frontlines screening and treating the infected patients. When a COVID-19-positive HCW is identified, its contacts need to be traced to check the spread of the infection among patients and other HCWs. Aims: This study was aimed to study epidemiology and risk factors associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) infection among HCWs and to quantify the risk of infection among HCWs in a tertiary level health care setting. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study enrolled all the HCWs who were exposed to a patient with COVID-19 in a tertiary level health care center, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand from 1st May to 30th July, 2020. Methods and Material: All the exposed HCWs were followed up for 14 days after the last exposure to a patient with confirmed COVID-19 infection. Epidemiological data were obtained using structured interviews. Statistical Analysis Used: The data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0. Frequencies and proportions were calculated for descriptive variables, and risk ratios were calculated for risk factors affecting the transmission of disease. Results: We observed that 1,141 HCWs of the tertiary level health care hospital were exposed to COVID-19 patients during the study period. A total of 22 HCWs were tested COVID-19 positive among these exposed HCWs. Univariate analysis revealed a high risk of exposure to be significantly associated with a higher secondary attack rate of SARS CoV-2. Conclusions: The study demonstrates the risk of COVID-19 transmission through asymptomatic carriers. Therefore, periodic testing of all health care workers is necessary to ensure early mitigation of the shortage of health care providers.
- Subjects
RISHIKESH (India); INDIA; SARS-CoV-2; MEDICAL personnel; COVID-19; TERTIARY care; INFECTIOUS disease transmission; CORONAVIRUS diseases
- Publication
Journal of Family Medicine & Primary Care, 2022, Vol 11, Issue 8, p4562
- ISSN
2249-4863
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1799_21