COVID-19 outbreak in healthcare workers in hospitals in Trieste, North-east Italy

Piapan, Linda; Michieli, Paola De; Ronchese, F; Rui, Francesca; Mauro, Marcella; M, Peresson; Segat, Ludovica; D’Agaro, Pierlanfranco; Negro, Corrado; Bovenzi, Massimo; Filon, Francesca Larese

doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2020.08.012

Cited by 32 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…However, low certainty evidence suggests that surgical masks and N95 respirators offer similar protection against coronavirus in non-aerosol-generating care (21). One study even reported an increased risk of N95 compared to surgical mask, but that study only adjusted for age as a potential confounder (22). Different types of masks, manufacturer standards, and the evaluation of potential confounders may explain discordances between studies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Case-Control Study of Factors Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Healthcare Workers in Colombia.

Rodríguez‐López

Parra

Vergara

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: Healthcare Workers (HCW) are repeatedly exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCW in one of the largest cities in Colombia. Methods: We conducted a case-control study, where cases had a positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and controls had a negative result. Participants were randomly selected and interviewed by phone. Analyses were performed using logistic regression models. Results: A total of 110 cases and 113 controls were included. Men (AdjOR 4.1 95%CI 1.7-10), Nurses (AdjOR 11.2 95%CI 1.1-119.6), not using a high-performance filtering mask (AdjOR 2.2 95%CI 1-5.1) and inadequate use of personal protective equipment (AdjOR 4.8 95%CI 1.1-19.6) were identified as risk factors. Conversely, graduate (AdjOR 0.1 95%CI 0.01-0.5) and postgraduate (AdjOR 0.05 95%CI 0.004-0.5) education, feeling scared or nervous (AdjOR 0.5 95%CI0.2-0.9), not wearing any of gloves, hat and googles/face shields (AdjOR 0.1 95%CI0.02-0.4), and the use of high-performance filtering or a combination of fabric plus surgical mask (AdjOR 0.2 95%CI 0.1-0.8) outside the workplace were protective factors. Conclusion: This study highlights the protection provided by high-performance filtering mask or double masking among HCW. Individual factors and the difficulties of wearing other protective equipment needs to be considered in designing, implementing and monitoring COVID-19 biosafety protocols for HCW.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Case-Control Study of Factors Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Healthcare Workers in Colombia.

Rodríguez‐López

Parra

Vergara

et al. 2021

Preprint

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“…Up to 40% of HCWs are asymptomatic, representing an important chain of transmission to be further investigated [4]. There is therefore an urgent need for non-invasive screening tools to aid in early identification of infected individuals, including at-risk healthcare workers [5][6][7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tracking smell loss to identify healthcare workers with SARS-CoV-2 infection

et al. 2021

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Introduction Healthcare workers (HCW) treating COVID-19 patients are at high risk for infection and may also spread infection through their contact with vulnerable patients. Smell loss has been associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, but it is unknown whether monitoring for smell loss can be used to identify asymptomatic infection among high risk individuals. In this study we sought to determine if tracking smell sensitivity and loss using an at-home assessment could identify SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCW. Methods and findings We performed a prospective cohort study tracking 473 HCW across three months to determine if smell loss could predict SARS-CoV-2 infection in this high-risk group. HCW subjects completed a longitudinal, behavioral at-home assessment of olfaction with household items, as well as detailed symptom surveys that included a parosmia screening questionnaire, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction testing to identify SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our main measures were the prevalence of smell loss in SARS-CoV-2-positive HCW versus SARS-CoV-2-negative HCW, and timing of smell loss relative to SARS-CoV-2 test positivity. SARS-CoV-2 was identified in 17 (3.6%) of 473 HCW. HCW with SARS-CoV-2 infection were more likely to report smell loss than SARS-CoV-2-negative HCW on both the at-home assessment and the screening questionnaire (9/17, 53% vs 105/456, 23%, P < .01). 6/9 (67%) of SARS-CoV-2-positive HCW reporting smell loss reported smell loss prior to having a positive SARS-CoV-2 test, and smell loss was reported a median of two days before testing positive. Neurological symptoms were reported more frequently among SARS-CoV-2-positive HCW who reported smell loss compared to those without smell loss (9/9, 100% vs 3/8, 38%, P < .01). Conclusions In this prospective study of HCW, self-reported changes in smell using two different measures were predictive of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Smell loss frequently preceded a positive test and was associated with neurological symptoms.

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“…This is especially true for healthcare workers (HCW) treating COVID-19 patients. HCW are at high risk for nosocomial infection themselves and may unknowingly spread infection through contact with hospital staff and patients [6][7][8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Reduced olfactory sensitivity, or anosmia, has been identified as a common manifestation of COVID-19. Olfactory loss has been identified by self-report in 15-85% of COVID-19 patients in Korea [9], Italy [8,[10][11][12], Spain [13], Canada [14,15], the UK [16], and Iran [17]. Remarkably, the correlation between the risk of COVID-19 and selfreported olfactory loss has been reported to be as high as r=0.87 [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tracking Smell Loss to Identify Healthcare Workers with SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Weiss

Attuquayefio

White

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: Healthcare workers (HCW) treating COVID-19 patients are at high risk for infection and may also spread infection through their contact with vulnerable patients. Smell loss has been associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, but it is unknown whether monitoring for smell loss can be used to identify asymptomatic infection among high risk individuals, like HCW. Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study, tracking 473 HCW across three months to determine if smell loss could predict SARS-CoV-2 infection in this high-risk group. HCW subjects completed a longitudinal, novel behavioral at-home assessment of smell function with household items, as well as detailed symptom surveys that included a parosmia screening questionnaire, and RT-qPCR testing to identify SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results: SARS-CoV-2 was identified in 17 (3.6%) of 473 HCW. Among the 17 infected HCW, 53% reported smell loss, and were more likely to report smell loss than COVID-negative HCW on both the at-home assessment and the screening questionnaire (P < .01). 67% reported smell loss prior to having a positive SARS-CoV-2 test, and smell loss was reported a median of two days before testing positive. Neurological symptoms were reported more frequently among COVID-positive HCW who reported smell loss (P < .01). Conclusions: In this prospective study of HCW, self-reported changes in smell using two different measures were predictive of COVID-19 infection. Smell loss frequently preceded a positive test and was associated with neurological symptoms.

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COVID-19 outbreak in healthcare workers in hospitals in Trieste, North-east Italy

Cited by 32 publications

References 4 publications

A Case-Control Study of Factors Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Healthcare Workers in Colombia.

A Case-Control Study of Factors Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Healthcare Workers in Colombia.

Tracking smell loss to identify healthcare workers with SARS-CoV-2 infection

Tracking Smell Loss to Identify Healthcare Workers with SARS-CoV-2 Infection

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