An Effective Mechanism for the Early Detection and Containment of Healthcare Worker Infections in the Setting of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis

Yueli Mei, Xiuyun Guo, Zhihao Chen and Yingzhi Chen
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Yueli Mei: School of Political Science and Public Administration, East China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai 201620, China
Xiuyun Guo: School of Political Science and Public Administration, East China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai 201620, China
Zhihao Chen: School of Political Science and Public Administration, East China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai 201620, China
Yingzhi Chen: School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 10, 1-20

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed healthcare workers (HCWs) to serious infection risks. In this context, the proactive monitoring of HCWs is the first step toward reducing intrahospital transmissions and safeguarding the HCW population, as well as reflecting the preparedness and response of the healthcare system. As such, this study systematically reviewed the literature on evidence-based effective monitoring measures for HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was followed by a meta-synthesis to compile the key findings, thus, providing a clearer overall understanding of the subject. Effective monitoring measures of syndromic surveillance, testing, contact tracing, and exposure management are distilled and further integrated to create a whole-process monitoring workflow framework. Taken together, a mechanism for the early detection and containment of HCW infections is, thus, constituted, providing a composite set of practical recommendations to healthcare facility leadership and policy makers to reduce nosocomial transmission rates while maintaining adequate staff for medical services. In this regard, our study paves the way for future studies aimed at strengthening surveillance capacities and upgrading public health system resilience, in order to respond more efficiently to future pandemic threats.

Keywords: COVID-19; healthcare workers; monitoring mechanism; containment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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