Characteristics of healthcare workers with COVID-19: A retrospective descriptive study in a quaternary care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Hala A Amer, King Saud Hospital Riyadh; Hassan A Abdallah, King Saud Hospital Riyadh; Haifa S Alkheledan, King Saud Hospital Riyadh; Nadeem S Gul, King Saud Hospital Riyadh; Juhaina A Altayieb, King Saud Hospital Riyadh; Mona Alsalam, King Saud Hospital Riyadh; Hani Tamim, American University of Beirut Medical Center; Saleh A Alqahtani, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre; Barbara M Soule, The Joint Commission; Ziad Memish, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-12-01
• Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2021 The Authors
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2021.103069
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Annals of Medicine and Surgery
• Volume: 72
• Grant/Funding Information: None.
• Keywords: Saudi Arabia; Pandemic; COVID-19; Healthcare workers; Infection control; Occupational health
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical presentation of Healthcare Workers (HCWs) affected by COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted at King Saud Medical City (KSMC), Saudi Arabia (KSA). All KSMC employees who acquired COVID-19 between March 22nd to July 15th, 2020 have been included. Their data has been anonymously analyzed. Findings: During the study period, among the 12000 HCWs working at KSMC, 9.75% tested positive for COVID-19. The source of HCWs infections was mainly community acquired (85%) which included incidences of transmission in hospital dormitories. Transmission among coworkers was the main source of hospital acquired incidences. Direct patient care was reported in 99.8% of study subjects among the high-risk areas, compared to 3.4% in low-risk areas (p-value <0.001), 12-h shifts were more common in the medium and high-risk areas, and at least one symptom was reported by 93.1% of HCWs in high-risk areas compared to 81.6% in low-risk areas (p-value <0.001). Conclusion: In KSA, for HCWs, reducing lapses in compliance with masking in non-patient care areas should be considered. In KSA the role that hospital dormitories play in the community transmission of COVID-19 among HCWs need further studies.