COVID-19 in health care workers in a university hospital during the quarantine in Sao Paulo city #MMPMID32931758
Faico-Filho KS; Carvalho JMA; Conte DD; de Souza Luna LK; Bellei N
Braz J Infect Dis 2020[Sep]; 24 (5): 462-465 PMID32931758show ga
Health care workers (HCW) are at a higher risk of being infected in their workplace. Out of a total of 466 HCW of Hospital Sao Paulo with influenza-like illnesses or any clinical suspicion of COVID-19 were tested for COVID-19 by RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 169 (36%) turned out positive and were analyzed by type of exposure and hospital occupation. Data of HCW household locations were also obtained. Logistic workers had the highest positivity rate for SARS-CoV-2 (p = 0.002), while nurse technicians had the highest rate among those reporting routine contacts with patients (p = 0.001). Physicians presented the lowest rate of infection, although living in most affected districts (p < 0.001). Policies and adequate training for all hospital employees may improve prevention of COVID-19 among all health care service categories.