Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in Health Care Personnel Working in a Pediatric COVID-19 Unit.
Hosp Pediatr
; 11(3): e42-e47, 2021 03.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-999866
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
The paucity of symptoms and the difficulties in wearing personal protective equipment make children a potential source of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection for health care workers (HCWs). Previous experience in pediatric settings reported high rate of intrahospital SARS-CoV-2 transmission in HCWs caring for children. We aimed at investigating the rate and determinants of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs working in a regional reference center in the Southern Italy.METHODS:
A prospective observational study was conducted to monitor the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infections among HCWs and investigate the relation between the infection rate and hours of exposure or number and characteristics of procedures, including nasopharyngeal swab, high-flow oxygen delivery, suctioning of airway secretions, sputum induction, and nebulizer administration.RESULTS:
After 5 months of monitoring, 425.6 hours of SARS-CoV-2 exposure (18.5 hours per person), and 920 hospital procedures, no case of nosocomial transmission was reported among the 23 HCWs enrolled in the study.CONCLUSIONS:
The application of stringent preventive measures, also outside the area dedicated to patients' care, can effectively control infection spreading also in pediatric settings.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Health Personnel
/
Disease Transmission, Infectious
/
Pandemics
/
Personal Protective Equipment
/
COVID-19
/
Hospital Units
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Adult
/
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
Hosp Pediatr
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
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