Patterns and practice management of occupational exposure of medical staffs in coronavirus disease 2019 isolation wards / 中华传染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the patterns and causes of occupational exposure to infectious diseases (OEID) among frontline medical staffs (FMS) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) isolation wards (CIW), and the particularity of post-OEID management and the measures to prevent OEID.Methods:A total of 1 061 FMS of Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital from February 4 to March 21, 2020 were enrolled. The OEID of FMS was investigated and analyzed from the perspectives of FMS physical and psychological conditions, protective equipment, infection-control related regulations and procedures, local air quality, exposure patterns, and the particularity of emergency treatment after exposure.Results:The incidence of OEID among FMS was 2.0%(21/1 061). The nurses and doctors accounted for 95.2%(20/21) and 4.8%(1/21), respectively. The incidences in 17 general wards and two intensive care units (ICU) were 71.4%(15/21) and 28.6%(6/21), respectively. Nearly 90.5%(19/21) and 9.5%(2/21) of the OEID events occurred in contaminated area and potential contaminated area, respectively. About 23.8%(5/21) of the OEID events were air exposure of oral-nasal skin, mucosa and respiratory tract, which was secondary to uncontrollable vomiting, and 76.2%(16/21) were pricking injuries. The inducement factors involved poor quality and inappropriate wearing of some goggles, atomization of the inside of goggles leading to blurring vision, chest distress and decreased sense of touch and operational flexibility related to level-3 protection equipment, poor air quality, FMS physical and psychological conditions, etc. Under the direction of "the Procedures for Handling OEID" , all incidents are properly handled and no FMS was infected by 2019 novel coronavirus and blood-borne pathogens. No new OEID event was found after the strict implement of set of preventive measures.Conclusions:The OEID among FMS in CIW is attributed to multiple causes. The optimized process that takes into account the specificity of OEID management for both COVID-19 and blood-borne infectious diseases can effectively prevent potential post-exposure infections. And reasonable precautions can fully reduce the risk of OEID of FMS in CIW.