FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPING COVID-19 AMONG HOSPITAL PERSONNEL AT A PEDIATRIC TERTIARY CARE CENTER IN BANGKOK, THAILAND

Abstract

Hospital personnel (HP) are at greater risk for contracting coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).  In this retrospective study, we aimed to determine factors significantly associated with contracting COVID-19 among HP in order to inform efforts to prevent this from occurring.  Factors were compared between those who did and did not contract COVID.  Study subjects were HP who participated in a COVID-19 screening program at a tertiary care pediatric hospital in Bangkok, Thailand during April 2021- March 2022.  During the screening program, all participating HP who were exposed to someone with COVID-19 or who developed COVID-19, had a confirmatory RT-PCR test or rapid antigen test performed and were included in the study.  A total of 1,619 subjects were included in the study, 13.7%  (n = 222) males.  The median (±interquartile range) age of study subjects was 37 years (30-47 years).  Of the total of 1,619 subjects, 177 (10.9%) developed COVID-19, defined as having symptoms and a positive test for COVID-19.  The factors significantly associated with contracting COVID-19 among study subjects were: having an underlying disease (odds ratio (OR) = 1.527, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.037-2.248, p = 0.032), working in a frontline role other than those of physicians, dentists, nurses and nurse assistants (eg, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, and radiologists) (OR = 2.511, 95% CI: 1.375-4.585, p=0.003), contracting COVID-19 when the omicron variant predominated (OR = 5.050, 95% CI: 3.403-7.493, p<0.001), sharing a sleeping space with someone with COVID-19 (OR = 5.046, 95% CI: 1.531-16.638,  p = 0.008) and using inappropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) during exposure (OR = 1.930, 95% CI: 1.061-3.510, p = 0.031).  In summary, factors significantly associated with contracting COVID-19 by subjects in our study were having an underlying disease, working in a frontline role other than being a physician, dentist, nurse or nurse assistant, working during the period when the omicron variant predominated, sleeping in the same room as someone with COVID-19 and not using appropriate PPE when exposed to people with COVID-19.  We conclude, HP at the study institution should be educated about these factors.  Further studies are needed to determine if educating HP about these factors will reduce their risk of contracting COVID-19.