COVID-19 in health care workers in a university hospital during the quarantine in São Paulo city

Abstract

@page { size: 21cm 29.7cm; margin: 2cm } p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; direction: ltr; line-height: 115%; text-align: left; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background: transparent } a:link { color: #000080; so-language: zxx; text-decoration: underline } Health care workers (HCW) are at a higher risk of being infected in their workplace. Out of a total of 466 HCW of Hospital São Paulo with influenza-like illnesses or any clinical suspicion of COVID-19 were tested for COVID-19 by RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 169 (36%) turned out positive and were analyzed by type of exposure and hospital occupation. Data of HCW household locations were also obtained. Logistic workers had the highest positivity rate for SARS-CoV-2 (p = 0.002), while nurse technicians had the highest rate among those reporting routine contacts with patients (p = 0.001). Physicians presented the lowest rate of infection, although living in most affected districts (p < 0.001). Policies and adequate training for all hospital employees may improve prevention of COVID-19 among all health care service categories.

Keywords

• Coronavirus
• Health care workers
• Pandemic