Cumulative Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 in Healthcare Workers at a General Hospital in Germany during the Pandemic—A Longitudinal Analysis

Abstract

Health workers (HW) are at increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. In order to monitor the infection dynamic on the basis of contact with patients, HW at the St. Antonius Hospital (SAH) were tested four times in one year by PCR and serology. The cumulative incidence of infection in HW was calculated. Swab and blood tests were simultaneously performed between April 2020 and April 2021. Risk factors and demographic information were assessed at the beginning of the study. The response rate was above 75% in all rounds of testing. The study comprised 1506 HW, 165 (10.6%) of which tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Working in an ICU or on wards with patient contact were risk factors (OR 4.4, 95% CI 1.73–13.6 and OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.27–8.49). At the end of the study, the majority of HW (810 of 1363 (59.4%)) had been vaccinated at least once. A total of 29.1% of unvaccinated HW and 5.3% of vaccinated HW showed an immune response typical for natural SARS-CoV-2 infection. Of the 73 HW who provided information on the course of the disease, 31.5% reported that their quality of life continued to be impaired. The cumulative incidence of infection was low in these HW, which may be attributed to vaccination and good hygiene. Nevertheless, a work-related infection risk was identified, highlighting the need to improve protection against infection. A high risk of developing long COVID was found after the infection has subsided. Special rehabilitation programs should be provided and HW should be compensated for reduced work capacity in the case that rehabilitation fails or takes a long time.

Risk factors for worsening of somatic symptom burden in a prospective cohort during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…A systematic review and meta-analysis of infection prevalence rates in healthcare professionals across 97 healthcare settings in Europe, the United States, and Asia found the rate to be 7% based on antibody testing and 11% using reverse transcription PCR assays (Gómez-Ochoa et al, 2021 ). In a longitudinal study of N = 1,506 healthcare professionals at a German General Hospital, 165 (10.6%) participants tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection within a one-year period between April 2020 and April 2021 (Platten et al, 2022 ). Further studies with a higher number of formerly infected participants would be needed in order to confirm our results.…”

COVID-19 – Arbeitsfähigkeit und Fehlzeiten bei Beschäftigten im Gesundheitswesen

“…In einer britischen Registerstudie wurde relatives Risiko für COVID-19 von 7,1 für Beschäftigte im Gesundheitswesen beobachtet [5] und in einer Studie aus Schottland war das Risiko für eine Hospitalisierung aufgrund von COVID-19 für Beschäftigte im Gesundheitswesen um den Faktor 3,3 erhöht [6]. In einer deutschen Follow-up-Studie mit Beschäftigten aus einem Krankenhaus der Maximalversorgung war das Infektionsrisiko für Beschäftigte auf den Intensivstationen am höchsten (OR = 4,4; 95 %-CI 1,7-13,6), aber auch andere Beschäftigte mit regelmäßigem Patientenkontakt hatten im Vergleich zu Beschäftigten ohne regelmäßigen Patientenkontakt ein doppelt so hohes Risiko sich zu infizieren [7]. In einer Querschnittsstudie mit Beschäftigten eines anderen Krankenhauses aus dem Raum Aachen, einem der ersten Hotspots zu Beginn der Pandemie, hatten Beschäftigte mit mehreren bekannten Kontakten zu COVID-19-Patienten mit einem Odds Ratio von 2,2 (95 %-CI 1,1-4,5) ebenfalls ein erhöhtes Infektionsrisiko [8].…”

Síndrome post COVID-19 en una estudiante de pregrado de medicina. Caso clínico

“…En este sentido, se ha reportado que estás alteraciones contribuyen significativamente sobre el mal pronóstico de la enfermedad. 4 Al respecto, desarrolló COVID-19 de manera grave, con manifestaciones de fatiga, disnea y dificultad respiratoria y deterioro cognitivo, lo cual concuerda con lo reportado en un meta-análisis, en donde se encontró que las principales alteraciones de SP-COVID son fatiga persistente y deterioro cognitivo. 8 Posterior a la fase aguda de la enfermedad, la paciente presentó SP-COVID-19, lo cual es frecuente en las condiciones de riesgo descritas de este tipo de pacientes.…”

“…Dicha infección predominó en los no vacunados. 4 Desde el punto de vista fisiopatológico, el virus SARS-CoV-2 causa un proceso inflamatorio severo, ya que entra a la célula adhiriéndose al receptor 2 de la enzima convertidora de angiotensina (ACE2-R), localizado en los endotelios vasculares de los diversos aparatos y sistemas, principalmente en el pulmón, afectando el sistema renina-angiotensina aldosterona en la patogénesis del estado de choque. Luego de que el cuerpo supera la COVID-19, los tejidos pueden tardar en recuperarse; sin embargo, si falla el mecanismo del cuerpo para volver a la normalidad, se mantiene la inflamación, pasando a lo que se llama un estado inflamatorio persistente.…”