COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers at Malaysia hospitals

ABSTRACT

Introduction Healthcare workers are at a substantially increased risk of being infected by COVID-19 patients. However, risk of being infected is depending on the critical phase of the pandemic, patients with COVID-19 might not be the absolute source of infection. Health workers could also be exposed to infected colleagues, infected family members, lives in communities of active transmission, or infected contacts during crowded events such as wedding reception and religious gathering. Objectives To explore the epidemiology data of COVID-19 infection among health care workers at Malaysia Hospitals especially on patterns of transmission and characteristics. Methods A cross-sectional surveillance study among infected COVID-19 healthcare workers working at Malaysia government hospitals. Results 1608 healthcare staffs at hospitals have been notified with COVID-19 infection in year 2020. By proportion, nursing occupation contribute up to 40.5%, followed by medical doctor (20.8%), healthcare assistant (9.7%), medical doctor assistant (9.1%), medical specialist (3.2%) and hospital administrative assistant (2.8%). Most of cases were reported from Sabah (39.8%), Selangor (27.5%), Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur & Putrajaya (6.7%), Sarawak (6.0%), Perak (5.6%) and Johor (4.7%). By gender, seven out of ten infected healthcare staffs were female and majority of them have no comorbidity (87%). In addition, rate of COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers was proportionately increased with rate of COVID-19 infection among community. Investigation by health authorities found 43.2% of COVID-19 infection cause by community, 36.3% occurred between staff to staff and 17% occurred between patients to staff. Conclusion Preponderance of infection has occurred within hospital environment. Occupational Safety and Health Unit should set up a good engagement with healthcare staff and effective strategies to protect and support the health, safety and wellbeing of staff through deep-rooted assessment of standard practice procedure especially in nursing and care activities. Digital contact tracing could improve contact tracing within hospital setting.