Risk and protective factors for severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among healthcare workers: A test-negative case-control study in Quebec, Canada

Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Ethnic disparities in health & social care workers' exposure, protection, and clinical management of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK

A. Kapilashrami et al.

Summary: The study found that minority ethnic health and social care workers face greater risks and responsibilities in COVID-19 work, as well as experiencing more unfair treatment and racial bias.

CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH (2022)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Impact of respirator versus surgical masks on SARS-CoV-2 acquisition in healthcare workers: a prospective multicentre cohort

Sabine Haller et al.

Summary: Respirators, specifically FFP2 masks, may provide additional protection against SARS-CoV-2 for healthcare workers who have frequent exposure to COVID-19 patients.

ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND INFECTION CONTROL (2022)

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Letter Medicine, General & Internal

Update Alert 7: Masks for Prevention of Respiratory Virus Infections, Including SARS-CoV-2, in Health Care and Community Settings

Roger Chou et al.

ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE (2022)

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Article Infectious Diseases

In-depth profiling of COVID-19 risk factors and preventive measures in healthcare workers

Paul R. Wratil et al.

Summary: This study aimed to determine risk factors for COVID-19 in healthcare workers, characterize symptoms, and evaluate preventive measures against SARS-CoV-2 spread in hospitals. The results showed that nurses, staff working on COVID-19 units, males, and HCWs reporting high-risk exposures to infected patients or outside of work had an increased risk of COVID-19.

INFECTION (2022)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms, patient contacts, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positivity and seropositivity among healthcare personnel in a Maryland healthcare system

Lyndsay M. O'Hara et al.

Summary: In a large-scale testing experience using PCR and serologic testing for SARS-CoV-2 among healthcare personnel early in the COVID-19 pandemic, no increased infection risk related to contact with COVID-19 patients was found. This supports workplace policies for healthcare personnel protection and highlights the importance of community exposure and asymptomatic infection.

INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY (2022)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Risks of COVID-19 by occupation in NHS workers in England

Diana A. van der Plaat et al.

Summary: This study quantified occupational risks of COVID-19 among healthcare staff in England during the first wave of the pandemic and found that patient-facing occupations such as those in additional clinical services, nursing and midwifery, and allied health professions had higher relative risks. Better protective measures for these staff groups should be a priority.

OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE (2022)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Professional practice for COVID-19 risk reduction among health care workers: A cross-sectional study with matched case-control comparison

Sarah Wilson et al.

Summary: Proper use of personal protective equipment adapted to the situation and risk level is essential in protecting healthcare workers against infection.

PLOS ONE (2022)

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Article Immunology

Infection Control Measures and Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG among 4,554 University Hospital Employees, Munich, Germany

Johanna Erber et al.

Summary: This study investigated the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospital staff in Munich, Germany and found that staff engaged in direct patient care had a similar probability of being seropositive as non-patient-facing staff. Increased risk of infection was observed in staff who had interactions with infected coworkers or private contacts, as well as those who had exposure to COVID-19 patients without appropriate personal protective equipment. The study also identified that the infection hotspots for SARS-CoV-2-positive staff and patients only partially overlapped.

EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2022)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Assessing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission to healthcare personnel: The global ACT-HCP case-control study

Robert J. Lentz et al.

Summary: This case-control study found that healthcare personnel (HCP) infection with COVID-19 was associated with non-aerosol-generating contact with patients and extra-occupational exposures. Use of respirators during aerosol-generating procedures and proper use of personal protective equipment were protective against HCP infection. Closer scrutiny of infection control measures in healthcare settings and continued awareness of the risks of public congregation may help reduce the incidence of HCP infection.

INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY (2021)

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Article Immunology

Seroprevalence and Correlates of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Health Care Workers in Chicago

John T. Wilkins et al.

Summary: The study found that healthcare workers are at risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection due to longer-duration exposures to people infected with SARS-CoV-2 within healthcare settings and their communities of residence.

OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Quantification of Occupational and Community Risk Factors for SARS-CoV-2 Seropositivity Among Health Care Workers in a Large US Health Care System

Julia M. Baker et al.

Summary: Identifying occupational and community risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among health care workers, the study found that community contact with COVID-19-positive individuals, community COVID-19 incidence, and being Black were significantly associated with increased odds of infection among HCWs.

ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Risk Factors Associated With SARS-CoV-2 Seropositivity Among US Health Care Personnel

Jesse T. Jacob et al.

Summary: The study found that healthcare personnel in three states in the USA were primarily influenced by community contact when it came to contracting the coronavirus, with workplace-related factors not showing a significant association. This indicates that current infection prevention practices in diverse healthcare settings are effective in preventing the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from patients to healthcare personnel.

JAMA NETWORK OPEN (2021)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

The effects of trained observers (dofficers) and audits during a facility-wide COVID-19 outbreak: A mixed-methods quality improvement analysis

Christopher Picard et al.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION CONTROL (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers in a large teaching hospital in the North West of England: a period prevalence survey

Robert John Shorten et al.

Summary: The study evaluated the infection levels of healthcare workers, finding higher seroprevalence in Asian/Asian British and Black/Black British staff, with clinical staff more likely to develop antibodies. Around 30.7% of symptomatic staff tested positive for antibodies.

BMJ OPEN (2021)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Surveillance of the infection prevention and control practices of healthcare workers by an infection control surveillance-working group and a team of infection control coordinators during the COVID-19 pandemic

Ui Yoon Choi et al.

Summary: During the IPC surveillance in a regional hospital in Korea, it was found that proper adherence to hand and respiratory hygiene was inadequate during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Attention and further training are needed for the management of medical waste and patient screening. The results of this study will assist other healthcare facilities in establishing their IPC strategies.

JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH (2021)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Identifiability and Estimation Under the Test-negative Design With Population Controls With the Goal of Identifying Risk and Preventive Factors for SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Mireille E. Schnitzer et al.

Summary: This study proposed an alternative design to recruit all individuals being tested for the virus, symptomatic and asymptomatic, in addition to population controls, for analyzing prospective risk factors. The study compared identifiability under two different study designs and explored the difference between prospective risk factor parameter and parameter targeted in the typical TND. It also introduced a novel inverse probability weighting estimator for evaluation through simulation study.

EPIDEMIOLOGY (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Infection control, occupational and public health measures including mRNA-based vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 infections to protect healthcare workers from variants of concern: A 14-month observational study using surveillance data

Annalee Yassi et al.

Summary: The study found that as vaccine coverage increased, SARS-CoV-2 infections decreased significantly in healthcare workers, despite the spread of variants of concern in the community. Unvaccinated healthcare workers had a higher infection rate compared to those post second dose, showing that vaccination can significantly reduce the risk of infection and provide effective protection.

PLOS ONE (2021)

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Article Immunology

Effect of Professional and Extra-Professional Exposure on Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Healthcare Workers of the French Alps: A Multicentric Cross-Sectional Study

Virginie Vitrat et al.

Summary: A survey of healthcare workers post the first wave of the pandemic revealed a 5.0% prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with higher rates among young professionals under 30 and paramedical students/residents. Inadequate protective equipment when dealing with COVID-19 patients and exposure to infected colleagues or relatives were associated with increased infection rates.

VACCINES (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Seroprevalence of and Risk Factors Associated With SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Health Care Workers During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

Piero Poletti et al.

Summary: The study found that professionals partially accustomed to managing infectious diseases had higher odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection, indicating the need for optimized organization of clinical wards and personnel, provision of appropriate personal protective equipment, and training for all workers directly exposed to COVID-19 patients to reduce infection risks in healthcare settings.

JAMA NETWORK OPEN (2021)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence survey among health care providers in a Belgian public multiple-site hospital

Reinout Naesens et al.

Summary: The study found that nurses had a higher seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies compared to physicians and other staff members, and contact with a confirmed COVID-19 colleague was identified as a risk factor for infection. Working in general COVID-19 wards was also found to be a significant risk factor for infection.

EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION (2021)

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Article Immunology

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Seropositivity among Healthcare Personnel in Hospitals and Nursing Homes, Rhode Island, USA, July-August 2020

Lara J. Akinbami et al.

Summary: The serologic survey in hospitals and nursing homes in Rhode Island, USA, revealed a significant difference in seropositivity rates between healthcare personnel in hospitals and nursing homes, with the latter having a higher infection rate. Nurses and receptionists/medical assistants in hospitals had a higher likelihood of seropositivity, while nursing assistants and social workers/case managers in nursing homes were more likely to be infected. Nursing home personnel in all occupations had elevated seropositivity compared to their hospital counterparts, indicating a need for additional mitigation strategies to protect them from infection.

EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2021)

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Article Orthopedics