Epidemiology of Corona Virus Infection (COVID 19) among Health Care Workers in Benha University Hospital, Egypt

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 has become an important public health issue in the world. Health care workers (HCWs) are at high risk of infection contributing to further spread. Objectives: to describe the clinical manifestations, treatment lines of COVID-19 among HCWs and to compare infection control measures between cases and controls. Method: This case control study was conducted upon 184 confirmed infected HCWs with COVID-19 and equal number of healthy controls in Benha university hospitals, from April 6 to October 15, 2020. Data were collected by a structured questionnaire together with laboratory results and treatment received. Infection prevention and controls measures were compared between cases and control HCWs. Results: Among 184 patients, 27.8% of cases had pneumonia. The most common symptoms were bone pain (86.4%). There were significant differences between cases and controls regarding following hand hygiene practice, knowing five moments of hand hygiene and using personal protective equipment (PPE). Conclusions: The majority of COVID-19 cases are mild. Lack of use of PPE and lack of hand hygiene practice were among risk factors of infection.