An Integrated Strategy for the Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Healthcare Workers: A Prospective Observational Study

Anna Maria Cattelan, Lolita Sasset, Eugenia Di Meco, Silvia Cocchio, Francesco Barbaro, Silvia Cavinato, Samuele Gardin, Giovanni Carretta, Daniele Donato, Andrea Crisanti, Marco Trevenzoli and Vincenzo Baldo
Additional contact information
Anna Maria Cattelan: Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Lolita Sasset: Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Eugenia Di Meco: Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Silvia Cocchio: Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy
Francesco Barbaro: Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Silvia Cavinato: Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Samuele Gardin: Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Giovanni Carretta: Health Department, Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Daniele Donato: Health Department, Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Andrea Crisanti: Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine, Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Marco Trevenzoli: Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Vincenzo Baldo: Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-12

Abstract: Background: Since the beginning of SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, a large number of infections have been reported among healthcare workers (HCWs). The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs involved in the first management of infected patients and to describe the measures adopted to prevent the transmission in the hospital. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted between February 21 and April 16, 2020, in the Padua University Hospital (north-east Italy). The infection control policy adopted consisted of the following: the creation of the “Advanced Triage” area for the evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 cases, and the implementation of an integrated infection control surveillance system directed to all the healthcare personnel involved in the Advance Triage area. HCWs were regularly tested with nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2; body temperature and suggestive symptoms were evaluated at each duty. Demographic and clinical data of both patients and HCWs were collected and analyzed; HCWs’ personal protective equipment (PPE) consumption was also recorded. The efficiency of the control strategy among HCWs was evaluated identifying symptomatic infection (primary endpoint) and asymptomatic infection (secondary endpoint) with confirmed detection of SARS-CoV-2. Results: 7595 patients were evaluated in the Advanced Triage area: 5.2% resulted positive and 72.4% was symptomatic. The HCW team was composed of 60 members. A total of 361 nasopharyngeal swabs were performed on HCWs. All the swabs resulted negative and none of the HCWs reached the primary or the secondary endpoint. Conclusions: An integrated hospital infection control strategy, consisting of dedicated areas for infected patients, strict measures for PPE use and mass surveillance, is successful to prevent infection among HCWs.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; novel coronavirus; infection control; health care workers; personal protective equipment; respiratory protective device (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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