Evaluation of the frequency and risk of corona virus in different occupations of a teaching hospital in Yazd City

F Kargar-Shouroki; M Beyk; GH Halvani; S Jambarsang

doi:10.18502/tkj.v16i4.17559

F Kargar-Shouroki Industrial Diseases Research Center, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
M Beyk Industrial Diseases Research Center, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
GH Halvani Industrial Diseases Research Center, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
S Jambarsang Center for Healthcare Data Modeling, Departments of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of public health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/tkj.v16i4.17559

Keywords: Covid-19, Risk, Hospital, Nurse

Abstract

Introduction: Healthcare professionals are the frontline soldiers against Corona.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on all personnel at a teaching hospital located in Yazd City. Each participant completed a questionnaire that included demographic information as well as their history regarding the frequency and length of daily contact with a patient infected with COVID-19. It also covered the duration of personal protective equipment (PPE) usage and alcohol-based hand rub application during direct exposure (with 1 meter) and throughout aerosolizing procedures performed on the patient. Incidence rate, Frequency rate, probability, severity rate, and risk of corona infection were evaluated among various occupational groups within the hospital.

Results: 40.66% of the staff employed in the hospital were infected with corona virus. The highest frequency of corona infection was observed among nurses (51.60%). Over 90% of healthcare personnel who did not utilize PPE for 95% of their work time faced a high-risk level for the coronavirus. Physicians reported the highest number of daily exposures (averaging 27.94 exposures) and the longest exposure time (averaging 243.89 minutes). The highest risk of infection among doctors (60.93) and nurses (39.49) was observed. The nurses exhibited the highest incidence rate (51.22) and frequency rate (26.27).

Conclusion: Due to a significant percentage of hospital staff with coronavirus, and with the highest infection rates occurring among nurses, adequate training for the use of PPE is necessary.