An early return-to-work program for COVID-19 close contacts in healthcare during the Omicron wave in Japan
Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy
; 29(1):102-104, 2023.
Artigo
em Inglês
| Scopus | ID: covidwho-2243676
ABSTRACT
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, maintaining adequate staffing in healthcare facilities is important to provide a safe work environment for healthcare workers (HCWs). Japan's early return-to-work (RTW) program may be a rational strategy at a time when there is an increased demand for the services of HCWs. We assessed whether the early RTW program for HCWs who have been in close contact with a COVID-19 case in our hospital was justified. Close contacts were identified according to the guidance document of the World Health Organization. HCWs who met all of the following conditions were eligible to apply to an early RTW program (1) difficult to replace with another HCW, (2) received the third dose of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, (3) a negative COVID-19 antigen test before each work shift, and (4) consent from relevant HCWs and their managers to participate in the program. Between January and March 2022, 256 HCWs were identified as close contacts (median age, 35 years;192 female). Thirty-seven (14%) secondary attack cases of COVID-19 were detected. Among 141 HCWs (55%) who applied to the early RTW program, nurses and physicians comprised about three-quarters of participants, with a higher participation rate by physicians (78%) than nurses (59%). Eighteen HCWs tested positive for COVID-19 by the sixth day after starting the early RTW program. No COVID-19 infection clusters were reported during the observation period. These findings suggest that the early RTW program for COVID-19 close contacts was a reasonable strategy for HCWs during the Omicron wave. © 2022 Japanese Society of Chemotherapy and The Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases
Adult; COVID-19; COVID-19 Vaccines; Delivery of Health Care; Female; Health Personnel; Humans; Japan; Return to Work; SARS-CoV-2 vaccine; RNA vaccine; Article; contact examination; controlled study; coronavirus disease 2019; COVID-19 nucleic acid testing; COVID-19 serological testing; direct contact transmission; health care personnel; human; major clinical study; male; medical technologist; nasopharyngeal swab; nurse; occupational exposure; occupational therapist; orthoptist; personnel shortage; pharmacist; physician; radiological technologist; SARS-CoV-2 Omicron; secondary attack rate; epidemiology; health care delivery; Close contact; Healthcare workers; Return-to-work program
Texto completo:
Disponível
Coleções:
Bases de dados de organismos internacionais
Base de dados:
Scopus
Tópicos:
Variantes
Idioma:
Inglês
Revista:
Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Artigo
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