Factors associated with an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers in aerosol-generating disciplines

Abstract

Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at a high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection due to exposure to potentially infectious material, especially during aerosol-generating procedures (AGP). We aimed to investigate risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs in medical disciplines with AGP.

Methods A nationwide questionnaire-based study in private practices and hospital settings was conducted between 12/16/2020 and 01/24/2021. Data on SARS-CoV-2 infections among HCWs and potential risk factors of infection were investigated.

Results 2070 healthcare facilities with 25113 employees were included in the study. The overall infection rate among HCWs was 4.7%. Multivariate analysis showed that regions with higher incidence rates had a significantly increased risk of infection. Furthermore, hospital setting and HCWs in gastrointestinal endoscopy (GIE) had more than double the risk of infection (OR 2.63; 95% CI 2.50–2.82, p<0.01 and OR 2.35; 95% CI 2.25–2.50, p<0.01). For medical facilities who treated confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases, there was a tendency towards higher risk of infection (OR 1.39; 95% CI 1.11–1.63, p=0.068).

Conclusion Both factors within and outside medical facilities appear to be associated with an increased risk of infection among HCWs. Therefore, GIE and healthcare delivery setting were related to increased infection rates. Regions with higher SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates were also significantly associated with increased risk of infection.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund Medizinisches Personal ist durch die Exposition gegenüber potenziell infektiösem Material einem erhöhten Infektionsrisiko ausgesetzt. Dies gilt insbesondere für Fachdisziplinen mit aerosolgenerierenden Prozeduren (AGP). Hierfür gibt es jedoch kaum Daten, insbesondere für den ambulanten Versorgungssektor. Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Häufigkeit sowie potenzielle Risikofaktoren für SARS-CoV-2-Infektionen bei medizinischem Personal von aerosolgenerierenden Disziplinen zu erheben und zu identifizieren.

Methoden Zwischen dem 16.12.2020 und 24.01.2021 wurde eine bundesweite Umfrage in den Disziplinen der gastrointestinalen Endoskopie (GIE); Hals-, Nasen-, Ohrenheilkunde (HNO); Mund-, Kiefer-, Gesichtschirurgie (MKG) und der Zahn-, Mund-, Kieferheilkunde (ZMK) durchgeführt. Hierbei wurden Daten zu SARS-CoV-2-Infektionen beim medizinischen Personal sowie potenzielle Risikofaktoren erfasst.

Ergebnisse 25113 Beschäftigte in 2070 Einrichtungen wurden in die Studie eingeschlossen. Die Gesamtinfektionsrate unter dem medizinischen Personal betrug 4,7 %. Die multivariate Analyse zeigte, dass Regionen mit höheren Inzidenzraten ein deutlich erhöhtes Infektionsrisiko aufwiesen. Außerdem war das Infektionsrisiko in Krankenhäusern und bei Beschäftigten der GIE um mehr als das Zweifache erhöht (OR 2,63; p<0,01 und OR 2,35; p<0,01). Ein tendenziell erhöhtes Infektionsrisiko bestand in Einrichtungen, die bestätigte SARS-CoV-2-Fälle behandelt haben (OR 1,39; p=0,068).

Fazit Das SARS-CoV-2-Infektionsrisiko für medizinisches Personal wird sowohl von Faktoren innerhalb als auch Faktoren außerhalb von medizinischen Einrichtungen bestimmt. Die Fachrichtung der GIE sowie die Tätigkeit in einem Krankenhaus beeinflussen signifikant die Infektionsraten. Eine höhere SARS-CoV-2-Inzidenzrate in der Region geht ebenfalls mit einem signifikant erhöhten Infektionsrisiko einher.

Schlüsselwörter

Aerosol-generating procedures - SARS-CoV-2 - Prevalence - endoscopy - risk factors - COVID-19

Keywords

aerosol-generating procedures - SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence - pre-interventional testing - gastro-enterological endoscopy - COVID-19 incidence

Publication History

Received: 15 February 2022

Accepted after revision: 05 May 2022

Article published online:
25 July 2022

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