Risk of COVID-19 in Healthcare Workers of the Nephrology Department in a Tertiary Hospital

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused devastating socio-sanitary effects worldwide pointing in healthcare workers. The aim of the present study was to analyze COVID-19 incidence, clinical presentation and treatment in the nephrologist of a tertiary hospital. Material and Methods: All healthcare workers of the Nephrology Department were included. All of them were tested for SARS-CoV-2 virus by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) and for antibodies against this virus (IgG and IgM). Data were collected about symptoms, chest X-ray, prescribed treatments and exposure time. All the variables were compared between COVID-19 infected and non-infected workers. Results: Thirty workers were included, of which 13 (43%) had COVID-19 infection. Participation in Emergency on-call shifts was associated to COVID-19 (p = 0.02). Among the COVID-19 patients, 7 developed symptoms; the most frequent was fever followed by myalgia. Three patients received hydroxycloroquine, one corticosteroids and 6 azithromycin. The use of azithromycin was associated to fever (p = 0.01), dysgeusia (p = 0.03), asthenia (p = 0.008) and cough (p = 0.03). Prescription of hydroxycloroquine was associated to dysgeusia (p < 0.001) and cough (p = 0.04). Positive rRT-PCR and IgG was associated to participation in on-call shifts. Conclusions: The prevalence of COVID-19 in the Nephrology Department is high and associated to the performance of on-call shifts.