WMJ (Warmadewa Medical Journal) (Nov 2024)
Profile of Healthcare Workers Infected by Covid-19 Admitted to Udayana University Hospital in April - June 2020
Abstract
Due to repetitive exposure to COVID-19 patients, healthcare workers are always at a high risk of contracting COVID-19. Hence, a study of the COVID-19 profile among healthcare workers might minimize morbidity and mortality. We conducted a cross-sectional study using medical records of healthcare workers positive for COVID-19 treated at Udayana University Hospital from April to June 2020. We excluded the medical records with missing data. Afterward, we characterized the age, symptoms, gender, comorbidities, and other variables written on the existing medical records.Patients admitted mainly were at their peak age (33.75 ± 12.241 years old) and were primarily male (62.5%). Three main professions were a doctor (58.3%), nurse (28.2%), and laboratory analyst (8.3%). The mean interval between the onset of symptoms and testing was 3.54 days, with varied lengths of stay, at most about two weeks (18.67 ± 10.357 days). Most health workers experience symptoms such as fever (66.7%), cough (58.3%), sore throat (25%), chest tightness (25%), and cold (20.8%). Only hypertension (12.5%) and DM (8.3%) were comorbidities identified. Immense exposure to the virus does increase the risk of contracting COVID-19. However, fast recognition leads to more rapid diagnosis and treatment, preventing abundant virus replication and substantially shortening the isolation period (18.67 ± 10.357 days). With only relatively young healthcare workers stationed, severe conditions requiring ventilator use were seldom seen. Constant exposure to a highly contaminated environment with insufficient protection, exacerbated by the escalated number of COVID-19 patients, negatively impacted healthcare workers. Regular testing and testing as soon as symptoms appear can shorten the length of stay and reduce the risk of COVID-19 progressing to severe symptoms.
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