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. 2022 Jan 13;72(1):10-16.
doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqab141.

Impact of social contacts on SARS-CoV-2 exposure among healthcare workers

A N Emecen  1 , S Keskin  1 , E Boncukcu Eren  1 , B Yildirim Ustuner  1 , S G Celik  1 , A F Suner  1 , E Sezgin  1 , N Siyve  1 , E Basoglu Sensoy  1 , E Tutal Altas  1 , Y Demiral  1   2
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Impact of social contacts on SARS-CoV-2 exposure among healthcare workers

A N Emecen et al. Occup Med (Lond). .

Abstract

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) have an increased risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection due to occupational exposure. Strict measures generally focus on the patient-to-HCW contacts. However, interactions between the HCWs also pose a high risk for SARS-CoV-2 exposure.

Aims: This study was aimed to investigate the effect of social contacts on the level of SARS-CoV-2 exposure risk among workers by broadening the current risk assessment algorithm.

Methods: Contact tracing records of the workers in a large university hospital between 19th March and 31st December 2020 were analysed. Multivariate conditional logistic regression models were estimated to evaluate factors associated with high-risk exposure for contacts among workers.

Results: Of the 329 exposed clusters, 260 (79%) were HCW-to-HCW contacted clusters. High-risk exposure was higher in the HCW-to-HCW contacts (44%), when compared to the patient-to-HCW contacts (5%) (P < 0.001). A total of 1827 HCWs contacted a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19-positive co-worker. Among the HCW-to-HCW contacts, high-risk exposure was higher in the support staff (49%, P < 0.001), in non-patient care settings (47%, P < 0.001) and in the social contacts (57%, P < 0.001). Social contacts between workers increased the high-risk exposure (adjusted odds ratio: 3.50, 95% confidence interval 2.62-4.69) in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions: A significant association between social contacts among workers and high-risk exposure of SARS-CoV-2 was observed. The results of the study emphasize the need for policies regarding the improved protection of HCWs in social settings in addition to patient care services.

Keywords: COVID-19; Contact tracing; SARS-CoV-2; healthcare worker; occupational health; risk assessment.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The number of exposed workers within the clusters by date.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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