Identification of Asymptomatic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections Among Healthcare Workers at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman.
Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J
; 23(3): 336-343, 2023 Aug.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37655090
ABSTRACT
Objectives:
This study aimed to describe the incidence and features of asymptomatic COVID-19 infections among healthcare workers (HCWs) at a tertiary hospital in Oman.Methods:
This cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2020 and February 2021 among HCWs with no history of COVID-19 infection. An online questionnaire collected sociodemographic and clinical data. COVID-19 infection was diagnosed using nasopharyngeal/throat swabs, which were tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Analyses were performed using the Chi-squared test, Fisher's exact test or univariate ordinary least squares regression, as appropriate.Results:
A total of 583 HCWs participated in the study, most of whom were female (56.6%), and the mean age was 35 ± 8 years. Only 9.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.3-12.3%) of the HCWs were at high exposure risk as they were directly involved in the care of COVID-19-infected patients. Overall, 4.1% (95% CI 2.7-6.1%) of the HCWs screened positive for SARS-CoV-2, of which 20.8% developed symptoms within two weeks. The frequency of SARS-CoV-2 positivity among HCWs working in high-, intermediate-, low- and miscellaneous-risk areas was 1.8% (95% CI <0.1-9.6%), 2.6% (95% CI <0.1-6.5%), 5.3% (95% CI 0.3-9.3%) and 4.8% (95% CI <0.1-69.3%), respectively. Working in high-risk areas was associated with increased compliance with various infection control strategies (P <0.001).Conclusion:
There was a greater frequency of SARS-CoV-2 positivity among HCWs working in low-risk areas, whereas HCWs who worked in high-risk areas were significantly more likely to report increased compliance with infection control strategies.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
COVID-19
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
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Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
País/Região como assunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Omã