Risk Factors for SARS-COVID 19 Outbreaks among Healthcare Workers at University Hospitals During COVID Pandemic. A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The coronavirus pandemic posed a significant transmission risk to healthcare workers (HCWs), necessitating the identification of specific risk factors unique to this professional group. Objective: This study was designed to investigate and delineate these distinct risk factors. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 168 HCWs at Kasr Alainy Hospital, with a mean age of 30 ± 6 years. The cohort included physicians, nurses, and other staff. Data were collected via detailed interviews and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing for SARS-COVID-19. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25. Qualitative variables were analyzed using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, with a significance threshold of p<0.05. Results: A statistically significant association was observed between a positive SARS-COVID-19 PCR result and contact with a positive HCW, with 53.5% of positive cases having such contact compared to 20.8% of negative cases (p<0.001). The majority of positive cases (90.3%) and symptomatic workers (93.8%) were employed in general wards, in contrast to those in the ICU (p<001). Nurses (54%) and junior physicians (25%) were the most symptomatic groups. Additionally, there were statistically significant differences between positive and negative groups regarding consistent use of surgical masks (p=0.04) and adherence to hand hygiene (p<0.01). Conclusion: Key factors contributing to SARS-COVID-19 outbreaks among HCWs include unprotected contact with asymptomatic positive colleagues and insufficient adherence to hand hygiene and surgical mask protocols. These findings suggest that general ward environments may present a higher risk compared to ICUs.