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Introduction: Being at high-risk for COVID-19, healthcare workers (HCW) were prioritized in the beginning of vaccination campaigns in Tunisia. The emergence of several variants raises the issue of resistance and postvaccination infection. Aim(s): To study epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 infection in HCW who previously had COVID19 vaccine. Method(s): Retrospective descriptive study focusing on Rabta hospital's HCW who presented themselves for a reinstatement visit after post-vaccination COVID-19 infection, from 15 March to 31 December 2021. Result(s): There were 122 HCW with a mean age of 42.8 years, a sex ratio of 0.5, and an average professional seniority of 13.8 years. 32% worked full-time in COVID-19 wards and13.1% had a history of COVID-19 before vaccination. Half had received two doses of vaccine. They were vaccinated mainly with mRNA (66.4%), viral vector (19.9%) or attenuated virus (12.3%). Symptoms appeared, on average, 35 days after the last dose of vaccine and the disease was confirmed by RT-PCR after 3 days of the symptom's onset. The main symptoms described were asthenia (66.4%), cough (66.4%), headache (62.3%), anosmia (64.8%), ageusia (55.7%), fever (52.2%), diarrhea (40.2%) ans dyspnea (21.3%). They were mainly put on symptomatic treatment and home rest for 11 days. However, 15% had an extension of their sick-leave and 2.5% presented a severe form requiring hospitalization. On return to work, 59.8% reported the persistence of symptoms including cough (18.9%), asthenia (11.5%), dyspnea (9.8%), anosmia and ageusia (7.4%). Conclusion(s): Vaccinated HCW presented mainly a mild form of COVID-19. Vaccination is an important and promising means to end this pandemic.
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Introduction: Health personnel are particularly exposed to the risk of contamination by SARS-CoV2. Various symptoms, particularly respiratory, have been described in this population. Objective(s): Determine the socio-professional, clinical and paraclinical characteristics of healthcare workers with Covid-19. Method(s): Descriptive cross-sectional study with health staff at Rabta hospital, suffering from Covid-19. The information was collected using a questionnaire administered by the doctor during the return to work consultation. Result(s): Our population included 418 health workers and was predominantly female (75.4%) with an average age of 41.5 +/- 10.5 years. They belonged to medical services in 40.1% of cases and held the position of nurse in 33.7% of cases. Contamination was intra-hospital in 45.7% of cases. A history of allergic asthma was noted in 7.4% of health workers. Respiratory symptoms were present in 63.9% of cases, mainly consisting of cough (45.9%) and dyspnea (28.9%). It was a moderate form in 24.2% of cases. A chest computed tomography was performed in 10.3% of cases, objectifying interstitial lung disease in 49% of cases. Hospitalization was necessary for 5.7% of staff with an average duration of 7.9 days. It was significantly related to the presence of respiratory signs (p<=10-3). On returning to work, 14.6% of affected personnel reported the persistence of exertional dyspnea. Conclusion(s): The respiratory signs of Covid-19, dominated by cough and dyspnea, were widely represented in our population and statistically associated with the need for hospitalization.
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Introduction: The correlation between the level of IgG titers and disease severity during the acute phase of COVID19 is well described. However, rare data are available on possible association between IgG titre and post COVID syndrome (PCS). Method(s): It was a prospective study. HCW who presented to the post-COVID outpatient clinic, 3 months after recovery were included. HCW were asked about the acute phase of COVID-19 and PCS symptoms and had serum samples for SARS-CoV-2 IgG. Aim(s): analyse the incidence of PCS among health care workers (HCW) and correlation with SARS-COV2 IgG level. Result(s): 108 HCW were included (mean age: 42.12+/- 10.31 years, sex ratio was 0,4). Initially, 4.6% experienced severe disease. PCS was detected in 63% of cases. Main symptoms were memory impairment (36.8%), fatigue (35.3%), dry cough (32.4%), dyspnea (32.4%) and asthenia (29.4%). The incidence was 100%, 57,1% and 62,7% in patients with severe pneumonia, mild pneumonia and without pneumonia, respectively (p=0,079, p=0,45 and p=0,92) (The incidence was 7,4%, 23,5% and 69,1% in patients with severe pneumonia, mild pneumonia and without pneumonia, respectively (p=0,079, p=0,45 and p=0,92)). At Follow up, the IgG level was positive in 70.4% of cases with an average rate of 8.44. HCW with PCS, were more likely to have a positive IgG level (67% vs 32%;p=0,41). Moreover, IgG rate was higher in this population (9.06 vs 7,48;p=0,38). Patients with no IgG had 40% less possibility to have PCS symptoms. Conclusion(s): The present study confirmed a high incidence of PCS in HCW. These symptoms were associated to a higher level of IgG suggesting immunological mecanisms. Further studies are needed to confirm these data.
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