Hasan Ağın (Turkey)
Health Sciences University Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Diseases And Surgery Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey Pediatric Intensive Care UnitAuthor Of 1 Presentation
COVID-19 AND TRANSMISSION PATTERN IN PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE HEALTH CARE WORKERS: MULTI-CENTER STUDY
Abstract
Background and Aims
Following the massive increase in the number of COVID-19 patients, mortality and morbidity of healthcare workers (HCW) have steadily increased. In this study, we aimed to investigate HCW in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) with respect to their number, source of infection, clinical characteristics, treatment and loss of workdays.
Methods
Information on infected HCW in PICUs between March and November 2020 was collected through an online questionnaire. Retrospective cohort.
Results
There were 768 HCWs in 16 PICUs in the study. During this study period, 114 (14.8%) HCWs were infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2)-CoV 2. Seventy-six patients were female, mean age of infected HCWs was 29.7±6.7 years. Sixty two infected HCWs were nurses, 39 were physicians, 13 were other HCWs. Comorbidity was present in 10.5% of the cases. Sixty-two HCWs were infected by PICU patients. Twenty four HCW in this group had being during performed endotracheal intubation, 11 had performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), 10 had providing aerosol therapy, 14 had providing non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and 50 had performed different patient care procedures. Fifteen infected HCWs were admitted to intensive care units. Oxygen supplements supported all patients, five of HCWs via nasal cannula, seven of HCWs needed via a non-rebreathing mask, five of HCWs via nasal cannula (HFNC), five of HCWs via NIV, three of HCWs via invasive mechanical ventilation, respectively.
Conclusions
Infections with SARS-CoV 2 were more likely to occur with insufficient use of PPE during patient contact, negligence of masks in the workplace and lack of social distancing.