Assessment of COVID-19 Contact Healthcare Workers at Manisa Celal Bayar University Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: In the COVID-19 pandemic process, the health of healthcare workers with a high risk of infection is critical. Many healthcare workers have become infected while serving COVID-19 patients, and they have also been and are still exposed to the disease agent at hospital, household or community-based. The aim of this study was to determine the risk status of healthcare workers in contact with COVID-19 patients working at Manisa Celal Bayar University Hospital, and to reveal COVID-19 surveillance and related results. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was based on examining the data of healthcare workers (HW) that came in contact with the disease between 1 April and 31 December 2020 to the COVID-19 Surveillance Unit (SU), which was established by Manisa Celal Bayar University Public Health Department during the pandemic process. Results: Among the in-contact health workers;65.7% were females, 42.5% were nurses and 26.0% were physicians. 23.8% of the contacts were high, 42.9% medium and 33.3% low risk. High risk contact percanteges were statistically higher in the emergency unit personal, laboratory workers and household/community based contacts (p= 0.000). PCR positivity rate was 10.1% in high risk contact and 3.6% in medium risk contact (p= 0.000). During the research period, the rate of COVID-19 positivity in healthcare workers at Manisa Celal Bayar University Hospital was determined as 21.9% (n= 374). In the study, 24.9% of COVID-19 positive healthcare workers were physicians and 29.0 % were nurses. Conclusion: 23.8% of HCW were evaluated as high risk contact and 21.9% of the group tested positive. High risk contact percanteges were statistically higher in the emergency unit personal, laboratory workers and household/community based contacts. Protecting healthcare workers from infection in the fight against pandemics and performing contact follow-ups are also vital for continuity of service.