Nosocomial outbreak of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome among healthcare workers in a single hospital in Daegu, Korea

Abstract

Background: In August 2020, 17 healthcare workers (HCWs) were simultaneously diagnosed with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) at a university hospital in Daegu, Republic of Korea.

Methods: An epidemiologic investigation using questionnaires was conducted for all suspected HCWs who had viral infection symptoms or who had the possibility of exposure to the index patient.

Results: A total of 17 HCWs infected with the SFTS virus (SFTSV) (28.8%) were identified among the 59 HCWs who had contact with the patient. Operating a bag valve mask during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (OR 7.50, 95% CI 1.75-41.07), cardiac massage during CPR (OR 12.00, 95% CI 1.76-241.94), exposure to the patient's body fluids (OR 7.43, 95% CI 1.91-34.69), and shorter individual hospital work experience periods (OR 6.79, 95% CI 1.70-32.10) were significantly associated with SFTS infection in the univariate analysis. However, exposure to body fluids was found to be the only statistically significant risk factor when multivariate analysis was conducted (OR 6.27. 95% CI 1.23-42.81, p = 0.036).

Conclusions: This finding illustrates the importance of wearing appropriate personal protective equipment in treatment areas and when conducting any medical procedures, including CPR for patients with SFTS, and any procedure that involves potential exposure to body fluids.

Keywords: Healthcare worker; Nosocomial transmission; Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome.