The Risk Factors for SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in Healthcare Workers of Secondary Level Intensive Care Units

Objective: Health workers are at the front line of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak response during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemics, the healthcare workers have been the most affected people by the infection overall the world. Eleven times higher risk for the severe infection in the healthcare workers in the current studies, especially in departments with a higher among of viral aerosols. This information would be useful to formulate job security policies and minimize occupational transmission. We evaluate the risk factors for the SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the healthcare workers of secondary level intensive care units (ICU) in which there are many viral aerosols because of the use of a noninvasive mechanic ventilator and high flow nasal oxygen treatment. Material and Methods: Fourty healthcare workers of secondary level ICU with a capacity of 16 patients were included in our study between November and December 2020. The risk factors and incidence of COVID-19 infection were evaluated by making a questionnaire. Results: 25% of the healthcare workers (n=10) were infected by SARS-CoV-2. The infected ones were remarkable with younger age, less experienced, and long duty hours (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between the gender, daily duty hour, smoking, marital status, body weight, history of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, duration of rest after the duty of the two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: As a result, younger age, less experience and longer duty hours were the risk factors for COVID-19 infection. Our study can be useful to ensure that all necessary preventive and protective measures are taken to reduce occupational risks of SARS-CoV-2 transmission to healthcare workers.