Epidemiological and clinical characteristics ofhealthcare workers with SARS-Cov-2 at the University Hospital Center (CHU) of Blida, Algeria

Abstract

BACKGROUND During the SARS-COV-2 pandemic several healthcare professionals were aªected by covid 19. OBJECTIVE To describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the caregivers with covid19 practising at the Blida University Hospital from 18/03 to 08/09/2020. METHODS This descriptive study focused on caregivers who were qualified as probable or definite cases between 18/03/2020 and 08/09/2020. At the University Hospital Center (CHU) of Blida, all caregivers who presented clinical symptoms in favor of covid were systematically confirmed by the SARS-CoV2 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on rhinopharyngeal swab, or failing that, by a CT scan. The Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine Department (SEMEP) was responsible for notifying confirmed or probable cases, confining contact subjects, and monitoring their clinical evolution in collaboration with the attending physician and the occupational physician. The data were analyzed by the SPSS so ware (20th version) and by Open Epi Calculator (Open Source Epidemiologic Statistics for Public Heath, www.OpenEpi.com). The results are as follows: A total of 183 healthcare workers were aªected by covid19 , CoV-2-SARS infection was present in 5% of the healthcare workers; 8 cases or 4.4% met the definition of a definite case and were confirmed by RT-PC, The mean age was 41.8 years ± 10.47 in both sexes. The distribution of caregivers aªected by covid19 among service staª was unevenly distributed, with staª from the medical-surgical emergency department (UMC) and the general surgery department at Blida University Hospital

occupying the first position with 10.2% each. In addition, the distribution of covid19 was also heterogeneous within occupational categories, with half of the caregivers being nurses and orderlies with 50% of the cases. RÉSUMÉ CONTEXTE Durant la pandémie du SARS-COV-2 plusieurs professionnels de la santé ont été atteints par le COVID 19. OBJECTIF Décrire les caractéristiques épidémiologiques et cliniques des soignants atteints de la covid19 exerçant au CHU de Blida de la période allant du 18/03 au 08/09/2020. MÉTHODES Cette étude descriptive portait sur le personnel soignant étant qualifié comme un cas probable ou un cas certain entre le 18/03/2020 et le 08/09/2020.Au centre hospitalo-universitaire (CHU) de Blida, tous les soignants ayant présenté des symptômes cliniques en faveur de la covid étaient systématiquement confirmés par la reverse transcription –polymérase Chain réaction RT-PCR) SARS-CoV2 sur écouvillonnage rhino-pharyngé,ou a défaut par un scanner.