EVALUATION OF THE PREVALENCE AND TRANSMISSION ROUTES OF COVID-19 IN HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL WORKING IN THE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and transmission routes of COVID-19 in healthcare personnel working in the hospital and the compliance with control measures.
 Material and Methods: In this study, hospital employees who were tested positive for COVID-19 between April 2 and September 30, 2020, were included. Out of the 1100 employees in the hospital, 80 were tested positive for COVID-19. A face-to-face survey was conducted with 66 healthcare workers that had COVID-19 positive PCR test results but returned to work only after their test results became negative.
 Results: The prevalence of COVID-19 among the hospital employees was calculated as 7.3% (80/1100). In the study, 66 healthcare workers who were found to be positive for COVID-19, were included. The mean age of the employees was found to be 39.1 ± 8.3 (Min-Max: 23-57) and 71.2% of them were male. COVID-19 was detected most in nurses, emergency room workers (12.1%) and polyclinic workers (12.1%). It was determined that 30.3% (n=20) of COVID-19 positive employees had contact with infected colleagues in the hospital and 19.7% (n=13) had contact with infected household members. 78.7% of the employees had never worked in areas designated for COVID-19. Among employees, the level of compliance with measures of wearing a mask (94%) and ensuring hand hygiene (92%) was found high, while the level of compliance with 1.5-meters social distance (59%) was found low.
 Conclusion: In a short period of time like the first six months of the pandemic, 7.3% of the hospital workers were infected with COVID-19. 
 Among employees, the level of compliance with the social distance rule was found low. It was determined that 78.7% of the infected employees had never worked in units designated for COVID-19. This shows that areas that are not designated for COVID-19 should not be ignored.