ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: An outbreak is defined as an increase in epidemiologically-associated cases greater than expected, during the 2019 Coronavirus pandemic 10.1% of cases are reported in healthcare workers in Mexico, however the circulation of the new Omicron variant with greater transmissibility is a risk for the occurrence of outbreaks. OBJECTIVE: Describes an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health personnel of a pediatric hospital during the pandemic. METHODS: An outbreak study is carried out in health personnel diagnosed with SARSCoV- 2 infection, in a tertiary pediatric hospital, from January 1, 2021 to January 30, 2022. The increase in laboratory confirmed cases in January, higher than cases reported in the previous period indicated an outbreak and the need to strengthen prevention measures in the population. RESULTS: An outbreak with 508 cases in health personnel in January 2022 was confirmed, identifying 27.5% as in-hospital. The circulation of a new variant with high transmissibility, together with the relaxation of prevention measures due to the state of vaccination and the perception of a lower risk from COVID 19, are factors for the presence of the outbreak. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to continuously strengthen prevention measures and make staff adopt them as a daily behavior to avoid outbreaks. © 2022 Instituto Nacional de Pediatria. All rights reserved.