COVID-19 Infections in Health Care Personnel by Source of Exposure and Correlation With Community Incidence

J Occup Environ Med. 2022 Aug 1;64(8):675-678. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002562. Epub 2022 Jun 9.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the rate of household, community, occupational, and travel-related COVID-19 infections among health care personnel (HCP).

Methods: In a retrospective cohort study of 3694 HCP with COVID-19 infections from July 5 to December 19, 2020, we analyzed infection source data and rates, compared with local and state infection rates, and performed a correlation analysis.

Results: Household (27.1%) and community (15.6%) exposures were the most common sources of infection. Occupational exposures accounted for 3.55% of HCP infections. Unattributable infections (no known exposure source) accounted for 53.1% and correlated with community rather than occupational exposure ( R = 0.99 vs 0.78, P < 0.01).

Conclusions: COVID-19 infections in this large HCP cohort correlated closely with infection rates in the community. The low incidence of occupational infections supports the effectiveness of institutional infection prevention and control measures.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Health Personnel
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Occupational Exposure* / adverse effects
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Travel
  • Travel-Related Illness