Περίληψη:
Background: As of late February 2020, Greece has been experiencing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. Healthcare personnel (HCP) were disproportionately affected, accounting for ~10% of notified cases. Exclusion from work for 7 days was recommended for HCP with high-risk occupational exposure. Our aim was to evaluate the 7-day exclusion from work policy for HCP with high-risk exposure. Methods: HCP with a history of occupational exposure to COVID-19 were notified to the Hellenic National Public Health Organization, regardless of their exposure risk category. Exposed HCP were followed for 14 days after last exposure. Results: We prospectively studied 3398 occupationally exposed HCP; nursing personnel accounted for most exposures (n = 1705; 50.2%). Of the 3398 exposed HCP, 1599 (47.1%) were classified as low-risk, 765 (22.5%) as moderate-risk, and 1031 (30.4%) as high-risk exposures. Sixty-six (1.9%) HCP developed COVID-19 at a mean of 3.65 (range: 0-17) days postexposure. Of the 66 HCP with COVID-19, 46, 7, and 13 had a history of high-, moderate-or low-risk exposure (4.5%, 0.9%, and 0.8% of all high-, moderate-, and low-risk exposures, respectively). Hospitalization and absenteeism were more prevalent among HCP with high-risk exposure. A logistic regression analysis showed that the following variables were significantly associated with an increased risk for the onset of COVID-19: male, administrative personnel, underlying disease, and high-risk exposure. Conclusions: HCP with high-risk occupational exposure to COVID-19 had increased probability of serious morbidity, healthcare seeking, hospitalization, and absenteeism. Our findings justify the 7-day exclusion from work policy for HCP with high-risk exposure. © 2020 The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Συγγραφείς:
Maltezou, H.C.
Dedoukou, X.
Tseroni, M.
Tsonou, P.
Raftopoulos, V.
Papadima, K.
Mouratidou, E.
Poufta, S.
Panagiotakopoulos, G.
Hatzigeorgiou, D.
Sipsas, N.
Λέξεις-κλειδιά:
absenteeism; administrative personnel; adult; Article; cohort analysis; controlled study; coronavirus disease 2019; female; follow up; health care personnel; health care policy; high risk population; hospitalization; human; intermediate risk population; low risk population; male; nursing staff; observational study; occupational exposure; physician; priority journal; prospective study; protective glasses; sex difference; Greece; health care delivery; health care personnel; policy, COVID-19; Delivery of Health Care; Greece; Health Personnel; Humans; Male; Occupational Exposure; Policy; SARS-CoV-2
