scholarly journals Healthcare institutions’ recommendation regarding the use of FFP-2 masks and SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among healthcare workers: a multicenter longitudinal cohort study

2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Szajek ◽  
Felix Fleisch ◽  
Sandra Hutter ◽  
Martin Risch ◽  
Theresa Bechmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Occupational Exposure ◽  
Seroconversion Rate ◽  
Occupational Risk ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Occupational Risk Factors ◽  
Pandemic Wave

Abstract Background Health care workers (HCW) are heavily exposed to SARS-CoV-2 from the beginning of the pandemic. We aimed to analyze risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion among HCW with a special emphasis on the respective healthcare institutions’ recommendation regarding the use of FFP-2 masks. Methods We recruited HCW from 13 health care institutions (HCI) with different mask policies (type IIR surgical face masks vs. FFP-2 masks) in Southeastern Switzerland (canton of Grisons). Sera of participants were analyzed for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies 6 months apart, after the first and during the second pandemic wave using an electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA, Roche Diagnostics). We captured risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection by using an online questionnaire at both time points. The effects of individual COVID-19 exposure, regional incidence and FFP-2 mask policy on the probability of seroconversion were evaluated with univariable and multivariable logistic regression. Results SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 99 of 2794 (3.5%) HCW at baseline and in 376 of 2315 (16.2%) participants 6 months later. In multivariable analyses the strongest association for seroconversion was exposure to a household member with known COVID-19 (aOR: 19.82, 95% CI 8.11–48.43, p < 0.001 at baseline and aOR: 8.68, 95% CI 6.13–12.29, p < 0.001 at follow-up). Significant occupational risk factors at baseline included exposure to COVID-19 patients (aOR: 2.79, 95% CI 1.28–6.09, p = 0.010) and to SARS-CoV-2 infected co-workers (aOR: 2.50, 95% CI 1.52–4.12, p < 0.001). At follow up 6 months later, non-occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals (aOR: 2.54, 95% CI 1.66–3.89 p < 0.001) and the local COVID-19 incidence of the corresponding HCI (aOR: 1.98, 95% CI 1.30–3.02, p = 0.001) were associated with seroconversion. The healthcare institutions’ mask policy (surgical masks during usual exposure vs. general use of FFP-2 masks) did not affect seroconversion rates of HCW during the first and the second pandemic wave. Conclusion Contact with SARS-CoV-2 infected household members was the most important risk factor for seroconversion among HCW. The strongest occupational risk factor was exposure to COVID-19 patients. During this pandemic, with heavy non-occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the mask policy of HCIs did not affect the seroconversion rate of HCWs.

scholarly journals Healthcare Institutions’ Recommendation Regarding the Use of FFP-2 Masks and SARS-Cov-2 Seropositivity Among Healthcare Workers – A Multicenter Longitudinal Cohort Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Szajek ◽  
Felix Fleisch ◽  
Sandra Hutter ◽  
Martin Risch ◽  
Theresa Bechmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Occupational Exposure ◽  
Seroconversion Rate ◽  
Occupational Risk ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Occupational Risk Factors ◽  
Pandemic Wave

Abstract BackgroundHealth care workers (HCW) are heavily exposed to SARS-CoV-2 from the beginning of the pandemic. We aimed to analyze risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion among HCW with a special emphasis on the respective healthcare institutions’ recommendation regarding the use of FFP-2 masks. MethodsWe recruited HCW from 13 health care institutions (HCI) with different mask policies (type IIR surgical face masks vs. FFP-2 masks) in Southeastern Switzerland (canton of Grisons). Sera of participants were analyzed for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies six months apart, after the first and during the second pandemic wave using an electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA, Roche Diagnostics). We captured risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection by using an online questionnaire at both time points. The effects of individual COVID-19 exposure, regional incidence and FFP-2 mask policy on the probability of seroconversion were evaluated with univariable and multivariable logistic regression.ResultsSARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 99 of 2794 (3.5%) HCW at baseline and in 376 of 2315 (16.2%) participants six months later. In multivariable analyses the strongest association for seroconversion was exposure to a household member with known COVID-19 (aOR: 19.82, 95% CI: 8.11-48.43, p<0.001 at baseline and aOR: 8.68, 95% CI: 6.13-12.29, p<0.001 at follow-up). Significant occupational risk factors at baseline included exposure to COVID-19 patients (aOR: 2.79, 95% CI: 1.28-6.09, p=0.010) and to SARS-CoV-2 infected co-workers (aOR: 2.50, 95% CI: 1.52-4.12, p<0.001). At follow up six months later, non-occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals (aOR: 2.54, 95% CI: 1.66-3.89 p<0.001) and the local COVID-19 incidence of the corresponding HCI (aOR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.30-3.02, p=0.001) were associated with seroconversion. The healthcare institutions’ mask policy (surgical masks vs. FFP-2 masks) did not affect seroconversion rates of HCW during the first and the second pandemic wave. ConclusionContact with SARS-CoV-2 infected household members was the most important risk factor for seroconversion among HCW. The strongest occupational risk factor was exposure to COVID-19 patients. During this pandemic, with heavy non-occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the mask policy of HCIs did not affect the seroconversion rate of HCWs.

Occupational Risk Factors among Primary Health Care Workers in Mersin, Turkey

2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 1194-1203
Author(s):  
Ahmet Öner KURT ◽  
Seva ÖNER ◽  
Gülçin YAPICI ◽  
Tayyar ŞAŞMAZ ◽  
Resul BUĞDAYCI
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Occupational Risk ◽  
Occupational Risk Factors ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Care Workers

scholarly journals Occupational Risk Factors and Asthma among Health Care Professionals

2007 ◽  
Vol 175 (7) ◽  
pp. 667-675 ◽  
Author(s):  
George L. Delclos ◽  
David Gimeno ◽  
Ahmed A. Arif ◽  
Keith D. Burau ◽  
Arch Carson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Occupational Risk ◽  
Occupational Risk Factors

The incidence of COVID-19 medical workers. The issues of biosafety and occupational risk factors

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 4-11
Author(s):  
T. A. Platonova ◽  
A. A. Golubkova ◽  
A. V. Tutelyan ◽  
S. S. Smirnova
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Occupational Risk ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Occupational Risk Factors ◽  
Coronavirus Infection

Relevance. During the pandemic of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), one of the most vulnerable and actively involved in the epidemic process categories of the population were medical workers. The study of the incidence of COVID-19 among medical workers, risk factors for infection and safety measures is an important area of research in modern conditions. The aim of the study is to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 among employees of medical organizations and occupational risk factors for infection in order to develop proposals for corrective measures. Materials and methods. To study the incidence of COVID-19 among employees of medical organizations, an anonymous online questionnaire developed by the authors was used, which was posted on the Google platform and distributed during the first wave of the pandemic among employees of medical organizations in several regions of the Russian Federation through corporate e-mail or specialized online resources adapted for health workers. The survey involved 1,872 medical workers of different genders, ages, positions and work experience. Results and discussion. Among the survey participants, 161 employees have already had a new coronavirus infection. In the majority (64.0%) of them, the disease occurred in the form of acute respiratory infection, in 28.6% - interstitial pneumonia, in 7.4% only the fact of isolation of the SARSCoV-2 antigen without clinical manifestations of infection was documented. The most affected contingents were secondary and junior medical personnel, mainly hospital staff. The likelihood of infection in the workplace was increased by factors such as providing care to patients with confirmed COVID-19, participating in procedures related to aerosol generation, working with biomaterials of patients with COVID-19, contact with surfaces in the environment of a COVID-19 patient, ignorance of infectious safety issues due to lack of instruction before admission to work. When assessing the efficiency of personal protective equipment (PPE) when they are used in the process, it was found that the highest value for the prevention of infection COVID-19 had a PPE for face protection, respiratory and eye, and hand hygiene. At the same time, many employees are faced with the problem of an insufficient number of protective equipment in the workplace. When assessing the availability of SARS-CoV-2 testing to employees, it was found that only 77.4% of survey participants had the opportunity to be tested for coronavirus infection in a timely manner. Conclusion. Thus, for more effective protection of employees of medical organizations, it is necessary to have a sufficient number of personal protective equipment, especially for the face, respiratory organs and vision, the availability of hygienic hand treatment during work, regular instruction on infectious safety, using interactive forms of training, and the organization of screening examinations of previously unvaccinated and unvaccinated employees.

scholarly journals Occupational Histoplasmosis: Epidemiology and Prevention Measures

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 510
Author(s):  
Marie A. de Perio ◽  
Kaitlin Benedict ◽  
Samantha L. Williams ◽  
Christine Niemeier-Walsh ◽  
Brett J. Green ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Occupational Exposures ◽  
Occupational Risk ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Occupational Risk Factors

In areas where Histoplasma is endemic in the environment, occupations involving activities exposing workers to soil that contains bird or bat droppings may pose a risk for histoplasmosis. Occupational exposures are frequently implicated in histoplasmosis outbreaks. In this paper, we review the literature on occupationally acquired histoplasmosis. We describe the epidemiology, occupational risk factors, and prevention measures according to the hierarchy of controls.

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