English

Abstract

BACKGROUND The corona virus disease - 19 (COVID - 19) pandemic has caused significant morbidity and mortality throughout the world, as well as major social, educational and economic disruptions. Hospital staff have maximum exposure making it extremely crucial to find a solution to reduce the disease burden among the hospital staff. A sample of 170 consecutive hospital staff infected with COVID in the months from May 2020 to December 2020 was studied. It was a retrospective study done by analysis of out-patient department (OPD) and indoor patient records in that time period.The purpose of this study was to assess different sources and types of exposure of hospital staff to COVID 19 infection and prevent episodes of infection in hospital staff. METHODS Survey of 170 COVID positive staff at a tertiary hospital was conducted and their potential sources of infection were documented. Source of infection could be other staff in hospital, room mates, patients, patient relatives, family, personal protective equipment (PPE) donning and doffing errors. Types of interaction could be in covid or non-covid areas of the hospital or during clinical encounters or social encounters within the hospital. RESULTS Nurses (46 %) and doctors (29 %) constitute 75 % of the total heath care staff infections in the hospital. Desk job staff, attendants, food and beverage workers and drivers together constitute 25 % of the total health care staff infections in the hospital. The most common sources of infection were found to be social interaction and patient interaction. The infections were acquired much more in the non-covid areas of the hospital than in the covid areas. 65 % of infections were acquired within three days of exposure and 87 % of total infections were acquired within 6 days of exposure. 77 % of infections were acquired within the hospital premises in patient and social interaction cases. CONCLUSIONS Staff acquisition of COVID was found to be significantly higher in non-covid than in covid areas. Social distancing measures, mask use, hand hygiene, attention to PPE would help in significant drop in new COVID infections in hospital. KEY WORDS COVID 19, Infection, Health Care Workers, Pandemic Prevention