Abstract
Background: Health Care Workers (HCWs) are at high risk of SARS-COV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease, not only in the chain of care for COVID-19 patients but also in non-infectious health care organizations that provide routine medical care to the population.
Objective: To analyze features of the course of COVID-19 in HCWs of a non-infectious hospital (non-IH).
Methods and Materials: A retrospective analysis of COVID-19 cases of HCWs of a non-infectious hospital (non-IH) due to a local outbreak during the “second wave” of the pandemic, despite the use of PPE.
Results: 7 HCWs out of 23 employees were infected and had a confirmed COVID-19 infection. All pointed to the presence of contact at work (patients, colleagues) as the main possible contamination factor. The development of COVID-pneumonia was observed in 4 persons; 2 of them were hospitalized. The most common symptoms were fever with a maximum temperature rise of 37.8-39 °C, weakness, chest pain, cough, and loss of smell. The duration of the persistence of symptoms of the disease was up to 16 days. The elimination of coronavirus in most patients was noted after the 10th day.
Conclusion: HCWs in non-IH providing routine medical care are at increased risk of contracting COVID-19 due to contact with infected patients or colleagues. The development of COVID-19 disease in HCWs leads to long-term disability, which creates tension in the work of non-IH. To reduce the risk of infection for non-IH HCWs, stated precautions are necessary: strict adherence to PPE use, mandatory testing of SARS-COV-2, and planning observational wards for unexamined patients hospitalized for medical care for other indications.
Keywords: Health care workers, non-infectious hospital, COVID-19, symptoms, COVID pneumonia, pharmacotherapy.
Graphical Abstract
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