Citation: Rita Dario, Désirée Caselli, Daniela Loconsole, Maria Chironna, Maurizio Aricò Effectiveness of Preventive Measures in Keeping Low Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Health Care Workers in a Referral Children’s Hospital in Southern Italy Pediatric Reports 2021,13, 118-124- MDPI - https://doi.org/10.3390/pediatric13010017
Abstract: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic now represents a major threat topublic health. Health care workers (HCW) are exposed to biological risk. Little is currently knownabout the risk of HCW operating in pediatric wards for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim is to assess theprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCW in a third-level children’s hospital in Southern Italy. Anobservational cohort study of all asymptomatic HCW (physician, technicians, nurses, and logistic andsupport operators) was conducted. HCW were screened, on a voluntary basis, for SARS-CoV-2 byRT-PCR on nasopharyngeal swab performed during the first wave of COVID-19. The study was thenrepeated, with the same modalities, at a 7-month interval, during the “second wave” of the COVID-19pandemic. At the initial screening between 7 and 24 April 2020, 525 HCW were tested. None of themtested positive. At the repeated screening, conducted between 9 and 20 November 2020, 627 HCWwere tested, including 61 additional ones resulting from COVID-emergency recruitment. At thissecond screening, eight subjects (1.3%) tested positive, thus being diagnosed as asymptomatic carriersof SARS-CoV-2. They were one physician, five nurses, and two HCW from the logistic/supportservices. They were employed in eight different wards/services. In all cases, the epidemiologicalinvestigation showed convincing evidence that the infection was acquired through social contacts.The study revealed a very low circulation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCW tested with RT-PCR. Allthe infections documented in the second wave of epidemic of SARS-CoV-2 were acquired outside ofthe workplace, confirming that in a pediatric hospital setting, HCW education, correct use of personalprotective equipment, and separation of the COVID-patient pathway and staff flow may minimizethe risk derived from occupational exposure
Keyword: health care workers; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; screening