The first wave of COVID-19 in hospital staff members of a tertiary care hospital in the greater Paris area: A surveillance and risk factors study

Benjamin Davido; Sylvain Gautier; Isabelle Riom; Stephanie Landowski; Christine Lawrence; Anne Thiebaut; Simon Bessis; Veronique Perronne; Helene Mascitti; Latifa Noussair; Martine Domart Rancon; Beatrice Touraine; Elisabeth Rouveix; Jean-Louis Herrmann; Djilalli Annane; Pierre de Truchis; Elisabeth Delarocque-Astagneau; Garches COVID-19 Collaborative Group

doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2021.02.055

The first wave of COVID-19 in hospital staff members of a tertiary care hospital in the greater Paris area: A surveillance and risk factors study

Int J Infect Dis. 2021 Apr:105:172-179. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.02.055. Epub 2021 Feb 16.

Authors

Benjamin Davido¹, Sylvain Gautier², Isabelle Riom³, Stephanie Landowski⁴, Christine Lawrence⁵, Anne Thiebaut⁶, Simon Bessis⁴, Veronique Perronne⁴, Helene Mascitti⁴, Latifa Noussair⁵, Martine Domart Rancon⁷, Beatrice Touraine⁴, Elisabeth Rouveix⁸, Jean-Louis Herrmann⁵, Djilalli Annane⁹, Pierre de Truchis⁴, Elisabeth Delarocque-Astagneau¹⁰; Garches COVID-19 Collaborative Group

Affiliations

¹ Maladies infectieuses, Université Paris-Saclay, AP-HP Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, Garches 92380, France. Electronic address: benjamin.davido@aphp.fr.
² AP-HP, GHU Paris-Saclay University, Raymond Poincaré Hospital, Epidemiology and Public Health Department, Garches 92380, France; Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm U1018, CESP, Primary Care and Prevention Team, Villejuif 94807, France.
³ AP-HP, GHU Paris-Saclay University, Raymond Poincaré Hospital, Epidemiology and Public Health Department, Garches 92380, France.
⁴ Maladies infectieuses, Université Paris-Saclay, AP-HP Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, Garches 92380, France.
⁵ Laboratoire de Microbiologie et hygiène, Université Paris-Saclay, AP-HP Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, AP-HP, Garches 92380, France.
⁶ Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm U1018, CESP, High Dimensional Biostatistics Team, Villejuif 94807, France.
⁷ Médecine du Travail, Université Paris-Saclay, AP-HP Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, AP-HP, Garches 92380, France.
⁸ Médecine Interne, Université Paris-Saclay, AP-HP Hôpital Ambroise Paré, AP-HP, Boulogne-Billancourt 92100, France; GERES, Groupe d'Etude sur les risques d'Exposition des Soignants, Paris 7518, France.
⁹ FHU SEPSIS (Saclay and Paris Seine Nord Endeavour to PerSonalize Interventions for Sepsis), RHU RECORDS (Rapid rEcognition of CORticosteroiD resistant or sensitive Sepsis), Department of Intensive Care, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré (AP-HP), Laboratory of Infection & Inflammation - U1173, School of Medicine Simone Veil, University Versailles Saint Quentin - University Paris Saclay, INSERM, Garches 92380, France.
¹⁰ AP-HP, GHU Paris-Saclay University, Raymond Poincaré Hospital, Epidemiology and Public Health Department, Garches 92380, France; Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm U1018, CESP, Anti-infective Evasion and Pharmacoepidemiology Team, Villejuif 94807, France.

Abstract

Introduction: Understanding how hospital staff members (HSMs), including healthcare workers, acquired severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during the first wave can guide the control measures in the current second wave in Europe.

Methods: From March 5 to May 10, 2020, the Raymond-Poincaré Hospital held a weekday consultation for HSMs for PCR testing. HSMs were requested to complete a questionnaire on their potential exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

Results: Of 200 HSMs screened, 70 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Ninety-nine HSMs completed the questionnaire of whom 28 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. In the multivariable analysis, age of ≥44 years (aOR = 5.2, 95% CI [1.4-22.5]) and not systematically using a facemask when caring for a patient (aOR = 13.9, 95% CI [1.8-293.0]) were significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Working in a COVID-19-dedicated ward (aOR = 0.7, 95% CI [0.2-3.2]) was not significantly associated with infection. Community-related exposure in and outside the hospital, hospital meetings without facemasks (aOR = 21.3, 95% CI [4.5-143.9]) and private gatherings (aOR = 10, 95% CI [1.3-91.0]) were significantly associated with infection.

Conclusions: Our results support the effectiveness of barrier precautions and highlight in-hospital infections not related to patient care and infections related to exposure in the community. Protecting HSMs against COVID-19 is crucial in fighting the second wave of the epidemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; Control measures; Healthcare workers; Personal protective equipment; SARS-CoV-2.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
COVID-19 / epidemiology*
COVID-19 / etiology
Female
Health Personnel*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Paris / epidemiology
Personnel, Hospital
Risk Factors
SARS-CoV-2*
Tertiary Care Centers*