Prevalencia de infección por SARS-CoV-2 en personal sanitario tras la implantación de un protocolo de manejo del equipo de protección individual

Abstract

Background: At the end of December 2019, the Chinese city of Wuhan reported a new pneumonia caused 33,000 deaths attributable to this disease were confirmed. The proper use of personal protective equipment reduced the risk of infection to a medium degree in health personnel. Objective: to determine the prevalence of infection in health personnel who have been in contact with possible or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases, to compare this prevalence with the prevalence in Spain, and to approach the mechanism of infection of health personnel. Methods: Observational, descriptive and retrospective study carried out from March 16 to May 11, 2020, in health personnel caring for patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2. The diagnosis of positive SARS-CoV-2 infection was established through clinical history, polymerase chain reaction, and through serological determination of IgG and IgM. Results: the 100% of the health personnel complied with the protocol after its implementation, about 3.7% were positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The state prevalence of infection was 24.1%. The mechanism or origin of the infection of the health personnel could not be established; however, the two infected professionals were users during a period of one week of N95 respiratory protection masks withdrawn by the health authorities. Conclusion: The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health personnel was 3.7%, lower than the prevalence in the rest of the country. The mechanism of infection has not been established.