Gina Oda1, Aditya Sharma, Cynthia Lucero-Obusan, Patricia Schirmer, Pooja Sohoni, Mark Holodniy. 1. Public Health Surveillance and Research, Department of Veterans Affairs, Palo Alto (Ms Oda, Dr Sharma, Dr Lucero-Obusan, Dr Schirmer, Dr Holodniy); Program Evaluation and Resource Center, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Department of Veterans Affairs, Menlo Park (Ms Sohoni); Stanford University, Stanford (Dr Holodniy), California.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We investigated COVID-19 infection and death among healthcare personnel (HCP) in the United States Veterans Health Administration. METHODS: HCP with positive Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests between March 1 and August 31, 2020 were included. Risk ratios were calculated for sex, age, race/ethnicity, Veteran status, occupation category, facility of employment by inpatient COVID-19 test percent positivity and death. RESULTS: Five thousand nine hundred twenty five HCP were COVID-19-infected out of 131,606 tested (4.5% positivity). Highest risk for COVID-19 infection included: HCP working in hospitals with more than 15% inpatient COVID-19 test positivity, nursing staff, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic or Latino HCP and HCP who were Veterans. Among 18 HCP who died after COVID-19 infection, male sex, age more than or equal to 65 years, and Veteran status were significant risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Robust national surveillance testing methods are needed to accurately monitor HCP COVID-19 infections and deaths to improve HCP safety.
OBJECTIVE: We investigated COVID-19infection and death among healthcare personnel (HCP) in the United States Veterans Health Administration. METHODS: HCP with positive Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests between March 1 and August 31, 2020 were included. Risk ratios were calculated for sex, age, race/ethnicity, Veteran status, occupation category, facility of employment by inpatient COVID-19 test percent positivity and death. RESULTS: Five thousand nine hundred twenty five HCP were COVID-19-infected out of 131,606 tested (4.5% positivity). Highest risk for COVID-19infection included: HCP working in hospitals with more than 15% inpatient COVID-19 test positivity, nursing staff, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic or Latino HCP and HCP who were Veterans. Among 18 HCP who died after COVID-19infection, male sex, age more than or equal to 65 years, and Veteran status were significant risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Robust national surveillance testing methods are needed to accurately monitor HCP COVID-19infections and deaths to improve HCP safety.
Authors: Kasen K Riemersma; Luis A Haddock; Nancy A Wilson; Nicholas Minor; Jens Eickhoff; Brittany E Grogan; Amanda Kita-Yarbro; Peter J Halfmann; Hannah E Segaloff; Anna Kocharian; Kelsey R Florek; Ryan Westergaard; Allen Bateman; Gunnar E Jeppson; Yoshihiro Kawaoka; David H O'Connor; Thomas C Friedrich; Katarina M Grande Journal: PLoS Pathog Date: 2022-09-30 Impact factor: 7.464