[COVID-19 epidemiology in health and social health workers in the health area of A Coruña and Cee]. / Epidemiología de la COVID-19 entre el personal de centros sanitarios y sociosanitarios del área sanitaria de A Coruña y Cee.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Since the beginning of the pandemic, it has become necessary to know the epidemiological evolution of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, this study aims to describe the characteristics of the casuistry of COVID-19 in health and social-health workers in the health area of A Coruña and Cee during the first epidemic wave, as well as to determine the association between the clinical profile and/or its duration and the condition of RT-PCR repositivization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the study period, 210 cases belonging to healthcare and social-healthcare workers from the healthcare area of A Coruña and Cee were diagnosed. A descriptive analysis of sociodemographic factors was carried out, as well as the search for association between the clinical picture and the duration of detection of a positive RT-PCR. RESULTS: The most affected categories were nursing (33.3%) and nursing assistants (16.2%). The mean time taken for cases to become RT-PCR negative was 18.3±9.1 days, with a median of 17. It was observed that 26 cases (13.8%) had a positive result in a subsequent RT-PCR, without meeting criteria for reinfection. The existence of skin manifestations and arthralgias was associated with repositivization after adjusting for age and sex (OR=4.6 and OR=6.5, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In healthcare professionals diagnosed with COVID-19 during the first wave, symptoms such as dyspnea, skin manifestations and arthralgias led to RT-PCR repositivization after a previous negative result and without meeting criteria for reinfection.