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Epidemiology of and Risk Factors for COVID-19 Infection among Health Care Workers: A Multi-Centre Comparative Study

Author

Listed:
  • Jia-Te Wei

    (Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China)

  • Zhi-Dong Liu

    (Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China)

  • Zheng-Wei Fan

    (State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China)

  • Lin Zhao

    (Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China)

  • Wu-Chun Cao

    (Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
    State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China)

Abstract

Healthcare workers (HCWs) worldwide are putting themselves at high risks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by treating a large number of patients while lacking protective equipment. We aim to provide a scientific basis for preventing and controlling the COVID-19 infection among HCWs. We used data on COVID-19 cases in the city of Wuhan to compare epidemiological characteristics between HCWs and non-HCWs and explored the risk factors for infection and deterioration among HCWs based on hospital settings. The attack rate (AR) of HCWs in the hospital can reach up to 11.9% in Wuhan. The time interval from symptom onset to diagnosis in HCWs and non-HCWs dropped rapidly over time. From mid-January, the median time interval of HCW cases was significantly shorter than in non-HCW cases. Cases of HCWs and non-HCWs both clustered in northwestern urban districts rather than in rural districts. HCWs working in county-level hospitals in high-risk areas were more vulnerable to COVID-19. HCW cases working in general, ophthalmology, and respiratory departments were prone to deteriorate compared with cases working in the infection department. The AR of COVID-19 in HCWs are higher than in non-HCWs. Multiple factors in hospital settings may play important roles in the transmission of COVID-19. Effective measures should be enhanced to prevent HCWs from COVID-19 infection.

Suggested Citation

  • Jia-Te Wei & Zhi-Dong Liu & Zheng-Wei Fan & Lin Zhao & Wu-Chun Cao, 2020. "Epidemiology of and Risk Factors for COVID-19 Infection among Health Care Workers: A Multi-Centre Comparative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-11, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:19:p:7149-:d:421716
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Wenning Li & Jianhua Gong & Jieping Zhou & Hongkui Fan & Cheng Qin & Yujiang Gong & Weidong Hu, 2022. "The Analysis of Patterns of Two COVID-19 Outbreak Clusters in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-12, April.
    2. Adrianna Bella & Mochamad Thoriq Akbar & Gita Kusnadi & Olivia Herlinda & Putri Aprilia Regita & Dian Kusuma, 2021. "Socioeconomic and Behavioral Correlates of COVID-19 Infections among Hospital Workers in the Greater Jakarta Area, Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-12, May.

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