Hospital factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare personnel in Greece

H C Maltezou; X Dedoukou; P Tsonou; M Tseroni; V Raftopoulos; A Pavli; K Papadima; A Chrysochoou; E Randou; G Adamis; E Kostis; A Pefanis; C Gogos; N V Sipsas

doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2020.10.010

Hospital factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare personnel in Greece

J Hosp Infect. 2021 Mar:109:40-43. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2020.10.010. Epub 2020 Oct 22.

Authors

H C Maltezou¹, X Dedoukou², P Tsonou³, M Tseroni⁴, V Raftopoulos⁵, A Pavli⁶, K Papadima⁴, A Chrysochoou⁷, E Randou⁸, G Adamis⁹, E Kostis¹⁰, A Pefanis¹¹, C Gogos¹², N V Sipsas¹³

Affiliations

¹ Directorate of Research, Studies and Documentation, National Public Health Organization, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: helen-maltezou@ath.forthnet.gr.
² National Public Health Organization, Athens, Greece.
³ Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Directorate of Non-Communicable Diseases, National Public Health Organization, Athens, Greece.
⁴ Directorate of Epidemiological Surveillance and Interventions for Infectious Diseases, National Public Health Organization, Athens, Greece.
⁵ Department of HIV Surveillance, National Public Health Organization, Athens, Greece.
⁶ Department of Travel Medicine, National Public Health Organization, Athens, Greece.
⁷ Emergency Department, General Hospital of Kastoria, Kastoria, Greece.
⁸ Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital of Kozani, Kozani, Greece.
⁹ First Department of Internal Medicine - Infectious Diseases Unit, Gennimatas General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
¹⁰ Therapeutic Clinic, Alexandra General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
¹¹ First Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Department, 'Sotiria' General and Chest Diseases Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece.
¹² Department of Internal Medicine, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece.
¹³ Pathophysiology Department, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.

Abstract

Healthcare workers (HCWs) have been recognized as a high-risk group for infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study estimated their risk of infection based on hospital characteristics. Factors significantly associated with increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection were: working in a non-referral hospital compared with a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) referral hospital, working in a hospital with a high number of employees, and working in a hospital with an increased number of patients with COVID-19. This study revealed gaps in infection control in the non-referral hospitals. There is an urgent need for continuous training in infection control practices. Compliance of HCWs with the use of personal protective equipment should also be addressed.

Keywords: COVID-19; Healthcare personnel; Hospitals; Occupational risk; SARS-CoV-2.

MeSH terms

COVID-19 / epidemiology*
COVID-19 / etiology*
Delivery of Health Care
Greece / epidemiology
Health Personnel*
Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
Hospitals / statistics & numerical data*
Humans
Infection Control / standards*
Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional
Personal Protective Equipment
Risk Factors