260. Assessing Health and Safety of Health Care Workers—Evaluation of Survey Methods in a Regional Medical Center

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Piacitelli ◽  
J. Boiano ◽  
K. Sieber ◽  
J. Catalano ◽  
N. Heyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Regional Medical ◽  
Regional Medical Center

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Health Care Workers—A Voluntary Screening Study in a Regional Medical Center in Southern Germany

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 3910
Author(s):  
Katharina Müller ◽  
Philipp Girl ◽  
Michaela Ruhnke ◽  
Mareike Spranger ◽  
Klaus Kaier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Specific Antibodies ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Regional Medical ◽  
Regional Medical Center

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is associated with a potentially severe clinical manifestation, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and currently poses a worldwide challenge. Health care workers (HCWs) are at the forefront of any health care system and thus especially at risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection due to their potentially frequent and close contact with patients suffering from COVID-19. Serum samples from 198 HCWs with direct patient contact of a regional medical center and several outpatient facilities were collected during the early phase of the pandemic (April 2020) and tested for SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. Commercially available IgA- and IgG-specific ELISAs were used as screening technique, followed by an in-house neutralization assay for confirmation. Neutralizing SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies were detected in seven of 198 (3.5%) tested HCWs. There was no significant difference in seroprevalence between the regional medical center (3.4%) and the outpatient institution (5%). The overall seroprevalence of neutralizing SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in HCWs in both a large regional medical center and a small outpatient institution was low (3.5%) at the beginning of April 2020. The findings may indicate that the timely implemented preventive measures (strict hygiene protocols, personal protective equipment) were effective to protect from transmission of an airborne virus when only limited information on the pathogen was available.

scholarly journals 460. Point-of-Care, In-Home SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibody Testing to Assess Seroprevalence in At-Risk Health Care Workers

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S297-S297
Author(s):  
Eric G Meissner ◽  
Christine Litwin ◽  
Tricia Crocker ◽  
Elizabeth Mack ◽  
Lauren Card
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Documented Infection ◽  
Inconclusive Result ◽  
Care Workers

Abstract Background Health care workers are at significant risk for infection with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Methods We utilized a point-of-care, lateral flow SARS-CoV-2 IgG immunoassay (RayBiotech) to conduct a seroprevalence study in a cohort of at-risk health care workers (n=339) and normal-risk controls (n=100) employed at an academic medical center. To minimize exposure risk while conducting the study, consents were performed electronically, tests were mailed and then self-administered at home using finger stick blood, and subjects uploaded a picture of the test result while answering an electronic questionnaire. We also validated the assay using de-identified serum samples from patients with PCR-proven SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results Between April 14th and May 6th 2020, 439 subjects were enrolled. Subjects were 68% female, 93% white, and most were physicians (38%) and nurses (27%). In addition, 37% had at least 1 respiratory symptom in the prior month, 34% had cared for a patient with known SARS-CoV-2 infection, 57% and 23% were worried about exposure at work or in the community, respectively, and 5 reported prior documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. On initial testing, 3 subjects had a positive IgG test, 336 had a negative test, and 87 had an inconclusive result. Of those with an inconclusive result who conducted a repeat test (85%), 96% had a negative result. All 3 positive IgG tests were in subjects reporting prior documented infection. Laboratory validation showed that of those with PCR-proven infection more than 13 days prior, 23/30 were IgG positive (76% sensitivity), whereas 1/26 with a negative prior PCR test were seropositive (95% specificity). Repeat longitudinal serologic testing every 30 days for up to 4 times is currently in progress. Conclusion We conducted a contact-free study in the setting of a pandemic to assess SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in an at-risk group of health care workers. The only subjects found to be IgG positive were those with prior documented infection, even though a substantial proportion of subjects reported significant potential occupational or community exposure and symptoms that were potentially compatible with SARS-COV-2 infection. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

scholarly journals Secure Health Care Workers’ Health and Safety Methodically During COVID-19 Epidemic in Taiwan

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 485-488
Author(s):  
Huang-Chi Chen ◽  
Mei-Hsing Chen ◽  
Chun-Wei Shen ◽  
Meng-Hsuan Hsieh ◽  
Lin-Kun Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Care Workers

scholarly journals Results of a Pilot Intervention to Improve Health and Safety for Health Care Workers

2013 ◽  
Vol 55 (12) ◽  
pp. 1449-1455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin Eicher Caspi ◽  
Jack T. Dennerlein ◽  
Christopher Kenwood ◽  
Anne M. Stoddard ◽  
Karen Hopcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Pilot Intervention ◽  
Improve Health

scholarly journals Cigarette smoking among health care workers at King Hussein Medical Center

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haytham M. El‐Khushman ◽  
Abdelmonem M. Sharara ◽  
Yousif M. Al‐Laham ◽  
Manaf A. Hijazi
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Cigarette Smoking ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Care Workers

scholarly journals Risk Factors of Needlestick and Sharp Injuries among Health Care Workers at Sanglah Tertiary Hospital

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
I Komang Widarma Atmaja ◽  
I Made Ady Wirawan ◽  
I Ketut Suarjana
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Tertiary Referral Hospital ◽  
Workplace Conditions ◽  
Care Workers

Background: Needlestick and sharp injuries (NSIs) remain one of the main occupational hazards among health care workers (HCWs) that lead to blood-borne pathogen exposure. Purpose: This study examined the risk factors for NSIs among HCWs at a tertiary referral hospital in Bali. Methods: A case-control study was conducted at Sanglah General Hospital, Bali, involving 171 HCWs, divided into 81 cases and 90 control subjects. The sample was selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Results: The majority of respondents had experienced NSIs once, in the morning shift, and had affected an individual’s hands. The most frequent activity leading to NSIs was giving an injection and most of the situations causing NSIs involved accidental self-action, and recapping needles. Factors associated with the incidence of NSIs were work career or experience of <5 years (p < 0.01; adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=5.04; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.04–12.42), non-compliance with working procedures (p = 0.01; AOR = 2.47; 95%CI= 1.26–4.82), female HCWs (p = 0.03; AOR = 2.21; 95% CI = 1.01–4.55), and unsafe workplace conditions (p = 0.04; AOR = 2.23; 95% CI = 1.01–4.92). Conclusion: Personal and environmental factors such as gender, work experience, compliance with working procedures, and workplace conditions are among the risk factors for NSIs. Occupational health and safety policies and programs focusing on the relevant factors, accompanied by adequate supervision, are necessary to reduce the risk of NSIs occurring.

scholarly journals Exit only: harms from silencing employee voice

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (05) ◽  
pp. A03
Author(s):  
Karen Adkins
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Employee Health ◽  
Employee Voice ◽  
Employee Morale ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Employee Effectiveness

The nationwide shortage of PPE for health care workers has been well documented. Reporting on this issue has been complicated by hospitals' imposition of gag orders on physicians and health care workers. There are harms that result from imposing these gag orders that go beyond the obvious harms to public and employee health and safety. Using Hirschman's ‘Exit, Voice, and Loyalty’ (1970) as a framework demonstrates that these orders represent a dangerous concentration of power in employer hands — health care workers are reduced to functionaries. Hirschman's argument, in part, is that organisations should seek to balance the availability of exit, voice, and loyalty for employees. Restricting employee options in morally untenable situations to exit only leads to direct and indirect harms. These gag orders are a pernicious practice, and bring with them long-term negative implications for employee morale, employee effectiveness, and public service.

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