Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection in health care workers and prevention measures

Abstract

Introduction. Currently, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 among healthcare workers continues to increase both in Russia and in other countries. Due to their professional activities' specifics, medical workers - frequent contact with sick people are most at risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2. The study aims to research the risk factors for infection of medical workers with SARS-CoV-2 to prevent infection and the spread of COVID-19 in medical institutions, considering the use of personal protective equipment. Materials and methods. Specialists of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor conducted an anonymous questionnaire with the subsequent analysis of the results obtained to study and assess risk factors for infection of SARS-CoV-2 medical workers, their attitude to the use of personal protective equipment, non-specific prophylaxis. Results. The authors present a literature review on the problem of infection and morbidity of COVID-19 medical workers, who are known to be at high risk of infection due to frequent contact with the sick. We analyzed data that exposure to higher concentrations of the virus, especially from critically ill patients, can affect the disease's severity in health care workers. The authors conducted an anonymous survey to study the risk factors for infection of health care workers with SARS-CoV-2 and their attitude to the use of personal protective equipment. Based on the obtained data, identified the main ways of infection of medical staff, options of the disease, and their severity, and revealed that providers responsible for selecting and using PPE. Conclusion. Assessing potential risk factors for the spread of coronavirus infection among healthcare workers is essential to prevent healthcare workers' infection and the spread of COVID-19 in healthcare settings.