Pattern of COVID-19 infection among health care workers at tertiary care center in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

Background: In the setting of wide-spread community transmission, health care workers (HCWs) are at greatest risk for community acquisition as well as potential health care acquired infection. The objective of this study is to assess risk profile of all the COVID positive HCWs and to determine the proportion of them among all the HCWs working in COVID wards in Sanjay Gandhi Memorial and Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Rewa (Madhya Pradesh, India). Materials and Methods: All COVID positive HCWs were interviewed regarding possible source of infection, symptoms, co-morbidities, addictions, prophylaxis and breach in PPE if any. Results: Out of total 96 HCWs, 24 (25%) contracted infection while working in COVID wards and rest 72 (75%) HCWs contracted infection from other sources. 60 (62.5%) were symptomatic and 7 (7.2%) had co-morbidities. Conclusion: Every patient should be suspected as COVID positive and must be undergone screening mandatorily amid community transmission. More research needs to be done on different aspects of COVID-19 among HCWs as there is a lack of data in this regard. Key words: COVID-19; HCWs; Pattern of COVID-19. Key Messages: Prioritising the provision of PPE, increase in testing capacity, placing older, more experienced HCWs mostly in organisational positions, minimising exposure by adjusting shift schedules, providing food and sleep facilities, regular breaks, and adequate time off between shifts could be some first restorative measures in the right direction for betterment of HCWs.