Factors affecting high-risk exposure amongst health care workers (Hcw): Audit of covid-19 risk assessment committee from tertiary care centre in North East India

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Quarantine and testing of High-Risk exposures of COVID-19 positive Health Care Worker (HCW) are recommended as per Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) guidelines. Many factors prevail when a HCW becomes High-Risk contact of a positive HCW during or after work hours. Materials & Methods: Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) was constituted to assess the risk (high or Low) of exposure for contacts of COVID-19 positive HCW or patient. Direct or telephonic interview of HCW done for risk assessment. Based on the questionnaire of MoHFW guidelines, the contact is categorised as “High” or “Low” risk exposure. We performed an audit of these interviews to determine the various factors that lead to HCW being categorised as High-Risk contact of positive HCW. Results: Having food together (lunch, tea, snacks etc.) was the commonest factor amongst the HCWs for reporting them as High-Risk contact. Other reasons included long conversations (>15minutes) without wearing a mask or proper PPE, sharing common vehicle to commute, personal visits to colleague’s home, spending social time together and not wearing gloves or improper hand hygiene. Routine hospital services were severely affected (including shutting down of OPD & diagnostic services and delay in routine surgery) due to quarantine of High-Risk HCWs. Conclusion: HCWs shortage and disturbance in routine hospital services is preventable by adequate social distancing norms and PPE protocols during and after work. Maintenance of social distancing among HCWs especially after work should be an important and ongoing task to counter COVID-19 transmission.