Epidemiological characterization of infection by sars-cov-2 of the healthcare workers of a university hospital in santiago de chile

Abstract

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak originated in the Hubei province in China spread rapidly throughout the world during the first months of 2020. On March 3, the first case was reported in Chile, at 17 days the first case of COVID-19 healthcare worker (HCW) was notified in our institution. Aim: To describe the demographic characteristics and the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the HCW of a university hospital in Chile. Material and Method: Retrospective study of SARS-CoV-2 infection on HCW in a university hospital between March 1 and May 31, 2020. Results: There were 273 positive cases. In the period under study, we had an incidence of 5.8%. When we separated the cases into clinical and non-clinical personnel, it was observed that their incidences were practically identical (5.8 vs. 5.7% p = 0.9430). 88% of the officials were oligosymptomatic or asymptomatic at the beginning of the clinical presentation and only 12% had a fever before the medical consultation. Conclusion: The incidence reported in the study was around 5 times that reported in Wuhan. If we apply the current definition of cases, we would lose 4 out of 5 cases. 88% of HPW did not present criteria to be considered suspicious, so it would be advisable in HCW to eliminate fever as a criterion to improve the research and trace their contacts on time.