Clinico-virological-epidemiological characteristics in Covid positive clusters among frontline Health care workers and non-health care workers – A Hospital based study

ABSTRACT

Background:Ample of studies have been carried out on the causative agent, pattern of illness, treatment options which mainly concern regarding the patients and general population affected from COVID -19, however few studies have fo- cused on its adverse effects on front line health care workers ( HCW ) and other employees of health care facilities. The present retrospective study was planned to analyse the clinico-viro-epidemiological profile of different covid clusters in HCWs and non-health care employees of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. Methods:A hospital based retrospective study was carried out on the HCWs and other employees of AIIMS, Bhubanes- war, who tested positive SARS-CoV-2 infection by RT-PCR test. The clinical and demographic information were analysed with corresponding virological data of the patient. Results:Of the 671 employees of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, 92 were from eight clusters that could be traced. The eight clusters involved 4 clusters each from both the HCWs group containing 66 individuals and non-HCWs group with 32. Male to female ratio was 2.51. Maximum 55(59.7%) individuals belonged to 20 -30yrs age group followed by 30-40yrs 28(30.4%) and least 3(3.2%) in 50-60yrs. Asymptomatic COVID positive individuals were more as compared to symptomatic in all the age groups. All the individuals with cycle threshold value (CT) ≤ 20 were symptomatic;of the 21 persons with CT value 21-30, seven were symptomatic and 14 were asymptomatic. Majority with >30 CT value (35/44) were asymptomatic. Conclusions:Frontline HCWs are constantly at increased risk of getting infection, but the disease burden and post -covid stigma can be substantially decreased among non-HCWS if COVID appropriate behaviour are strictly implemented and followe