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. 2021 Apr:105:172-179.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.02.055. Epub 2021 Feb 16.

The first wave of COVID-19 in hospital staff members of a tertiary care hospital in the greater Paris area: A surveillance and risk factors study

Benjamin Davido  1 , Sylvain Gautier  2 , Isabelle Riom  3 , Stephanie Landowski  4 , Christine Lawrence  5 , Anne Thiebaut  6 , Simon Bessis  4 , Veronique Perronne  4 , Helene Mascitti  4 , Latifa Noussair  5 , Martine Domart Rancon  7 , Beatrice Touraine  4 , Elisabeth Rouveix  8 , Jean-Louis Herrmann  5 , Djilalli Annane  9 , Pierre de Truchis  4 , Elisabeth Delarocque-Astagneau  10 ; Garches COVID-19 Collaborative Group
Affiliations

The first wave of COVID-19 in hospital staff members of a tertiary care hospital in the greater Paris area: A surveillance and risk factors study

Benjamin Davido et al. Int J Infect Dis. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

Introduction: Understanding how hospital staff members (HSMs), including healthcare workers, acquired severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during the first wave can guide the control measures in the current second wave in Europe.

Methods: From March 5 to May 10, 2020, the Raymond-Poincaré Hospital held a weekday consultation for HSMs for PCR testing. HSMs were requested to complete a questionnaire on their potential exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

Results: Of 200 HSMs screened, 70 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Ninety-nine HSMs completed the questionnaire of whom 28 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. In the multivariable analysis, age of ≥44 years (aOR = 5.2, 95% CI [1.4-22.5]) and not systematically using a facemask when caring for a patient (aOR = 13.9, 95% CI [1.8-293.0]) were significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Working in a COVID-19-dedicated ward (aOR = 0.7, 95% CI [0.2-3.2]) was not significantly associated with infection. Community-related exposure in and outside the hospital, hospital meetings without facemasks (aOR = 21.3, 95% CI [4.5-143.9]) and private gatherings (aOR = 10, 95% CI [1.3-91.0]) were significantly associated with infection.

Conclusions: Our results support the effectiveness of barrier precautions and highlight in-hospital infections not related to patient care and infections related to exposure in the community. Protecting HSMs against COVID-19 is crucial in fighting the second wave of the epidemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; Control measures; Healthcare workers; Personal protective equipment; SARS-CoV-2.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Cases of COVID-19 in hospital staff reported and included by date of onset of symptoms (day) and the cumulative number of patients hospitalised by date. Black bars represent COVID-19 positive cases among hospital staff. Grey bars represent the COVID-19 cases who participated in the study. The sum of the black and grey bars represents the total number of COVID-19 positive cases at each date. For example: on March 20, 2020, there were 8 new cases among hospital staff members, including 2 who participated in the study. The grey line represents the cumulative number of patients hospitalised by day. Dates of several control measures implemented in the hospital are indicated below the figure.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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