Abstract
Abstract During the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, concerns were raised that healthcare workers (HCWs) were at high risk of infection. The aim of this study was to explore the transmission of COVID-19 among HCWs during a staff outbreak at an inpatient ward in Sweden 1 March to 31 May 2020. A mixed-methods approach was applied using several data sources. In total, 152 of 176 HCWs participated. The incidence of COVID-19 among HCWs was 33%. Among cases, 48 (96%) performed activities involving direct contact with COVID-19 patients. Contact tracing connected 78% of cases to interaction with another contagious co-worker. Only a few HCW cases reported contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case at home (n = 6; 12%) or in the community (n = 3; 6%). Multiple logistic regression identified direct care of COVID-19 patients and positive COVID-19 family contact as risk factors for infection (adjusted OR 8.4 and 9.0 respectively). Main interventions to stop the outbreak were physical distancing between HCWs, reinforcement of personal hygiene routines and rigorous surface cleaning. The personal protective equipment used in contact with patients was not changed in response to the outbreak. We highlight HCW-to-HCW transmission of COVID-19 in a hospital environment and the importance of preventing droplet and contact transmission between co-workers.
Highlights
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020 [1]
The first case of COVID-19 was reported in Sweden on 31 January and on 10 March 2020 the Swedish Public Health Agency officially declared a societal spread of COVID-19 in Sweden [2]
The study was based on an outbreak of COVID-19 among healthcare workers (HCWs) at an inpatient ward of Infectious Diseases at a county hospital in one healthcare region in Sweden
Summary
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020 [1]. The first phase of the pandemic lasted until the end of July 2020. During this first phase, high numbers of infections and deaths due to COVID-19 among healthcare workers (HCWs) raised concerns globally [3, 4]. Lack of knowledge on transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2 in a hospital environment and shortage of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) added to insecurity and stress among HCWs [5, 6]. Age: median (IQR) 33 (27–47) 29 (26–45). Years of work experience: median (IQR) 6.5 (2–20)
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