ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak originated in the Hubei province in China spread rapidly throughout the world during the first months of 2020. On March 3, the first case was reported in Chile; at 17 days the first case of COVID-19 healthcare worker (HCW) was notified in our institution. AIM: To describe the demographic characteristics and the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the HCW of a university hospital in Chile. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Retrospective study of SARS-CoV-2 infection on HCW in a university hospital between March 1 and May 31, 2020. RESULTS: There were 273 positive cases. In the period under study, we had an incidence of 5.8%. When we separated the cases into clinical and non-clinical personnel, it was observed that their incidences were practically identical (5.8 vs. 5.7% p = 0.9430). 88% of the officials were oligosymptomatic or asymptomatic at the beginning of the clinical presentation and only 12% had a fever before the medical consultation. CONCLUSION: The incidence reported in the study was around 5 times that reported in Wuhan. If we apply the current definition of cases, we would lose 4 out of 5 cases. 88% of HPW did not present criteria to be considered suspicious, so it would be advisable in HCW to eliminate fever as a criterion to improve the research and trace their contacts on time.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Chile/epidemiology , Health Personnel , Hospitals, University , Humans , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
INTRODUCCIÓN: El brote de SARS-CoV-2 originado en la provincia de Hubei en la República Popular China, se fue extendiendo aceleradamente en el mundo durante los primeros meses del año 2020. El 3 de marzo se notificó el primer caso en Chile; a los 17 días se notificó el primer caso de un Personal de Salud (PS) COVID-19 en nuestra institución. OBJETIVO: Describir las características demográficas y la incidencia de infección por SARS-CoV-2 en el PS de un hospital universitario de alta complejidad. MATERIAL Y MÉTODO: Estudio retrospectivo de los casos de infección por SARS-CoV-2 del PS entre el 1 de marzo y 31 de mayo de 2020. RESULTADOS: Hubo 273 casos positivos, con una incidencia de 5,8% en el período en estudio. Al dividir los casos en personal clínico y no clínico se observó que sus incidencias fueron prácticamente idénticas (5,8 vs 5,7% p = 0,9430). El 88% de los funcionarios fue oligo-sintomático o asintomático al inicio del cuadro clínico y sólo 12% tuvo fiebre antes de la consulta médica. CONCLUSIÓN: La incidencia reportada en el estudio fue alrededor de cinco veces la reportada en Wuhan. Al aplicar la definición de casos vigente, se perderían cuatro de cada cinco casos. Destaca que 88% del PS no presentaba criterios para ser considerado sospechoso, por lo que sería recomendable en el PS eliminar la fiebre como criterio para mejorar la pesquisa y trazar sus contactos de forma oportuna.
BACKGROUND: The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak originated in the Hubei province in China spread rapidly throughout the world during the first months of 2020. On March 3, the first case was reported in Chile; at 17 days the first case of COVID-19 healthcare worker (HCW) was notified in our institution. AIM: To describe the demographic characteristics and the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the HCW of a university hospital in Chile. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Retrospective study of SARS-CoV-2 infection on HCW in a university hospital between March 1 and May 31, 2020. RESULTS: There were 273 positive cases. In the period under study, we had an incidence of 5.8%. When we separated the cases into clinical and non-clinical personnel, it was observed that their incidences were practically identical (5.8 vs. 5.7% p = 0.9430). 88% of the officials were oligosymptomatic or asymptomatic at the beginning of the clinical presentation and only 12% had a fever before the medical consultation. CONCLUSION: The incidence reported in the study was around 5 times that reported in Wuhan. If we apply the current definition of cases, we would lose 4 out of 5 cases. 88% of HPW did not present criteria to be considered suspicious, so it would be advisable in HCW to eliminate fever as a criterion to improve the research and trace their contacts on time.