Causes of Alarmingly High Frequency of Covid 19 Infection in Health Care Workers: A Third World Perspective
Farah Sadiq, Shayan Nawaz, Amelia Abid, Kashif Auob, Fatima Riaz
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ABSTRACT
Background: Covid 19 infection is
spreading like a wild fire world wide. More worrisome thing is that it has spread in
health workers too which are the sole care takers of affected patients, despite of use of personal protective equipments
and taking other precautions.
Aim: To conduct a study at
local level to see causes of high frequency of Covid 19 infection in health care
workers.
Methods: We conducted a cross sectional
observational study in which we enrolled
195 doctors, nurses and paramedics from different hospitals of punjab
,who were affected from covid 19 infection and gave them a questionnaire to
fill regarding use of mask, (surgical, cloth, n=95)/duration
of its use, use of surgical cap, goggles, soap or hand sanitizer use/frequency, technique of donning/doffing of PPE etc,to find out that where is the
fault.
Results: Out of
total 195 participants 148 were doctors from various specialties, departments
and with different work experience.47 were nurses and other paramedical staff
including lab workers, pharmacists, ward boys and others. Out of 195 participants 42(21.5%) did not use
PPE (cover-all with surgical apron, mask KN-95 or N-95, goggles/face shield)
whereas 153(78.5%) used it.
Conclusion: We
concluded at the end of our study that improper doffing techniques, overuse of
masks for more than 3 days,and infrequent hand washing may be the reasons for
increased rate of infection and need to be dealt promptly.
Keywords: Covid
19 infection, health care workers, high frequency of infection
ABSTRACT
Background: Covid 19 infection is
spreading like a wild fire world wide. More worrisome thing is that it has spread in
health workers too which are the sole care takers of affected patients, despite of use of personal protective equipments
and taking other precautions.
Aim: To conduct a study at
local level to see causes of high frequency of Covid 19 infection in health care
workers.
Methods: We conducted a cross sectional
observational study in which we enrolled
195 doctors, nurses and paramedics from different hospitals of punjab
,who were affected from covid 19 infection and gave them a questionnaire to
fill regarding use of mask, (surgical, cloth, n=95)/duration
of its use, use of surgical cap, goggles, soap or hand sanitizer use/frequency, technique of donning/doffing of PPE etc,to find out that where is the
fault.
Results: Out of
total 195 participants 148 were doctors from various specialties, departments
and with different work experience.47 were nurses and other paramedical staff
including lab workers, pharmacists, ward boys and others. Out of 195 participants 42(21.5%) did not use
PPE (cover-all with surgical apron, mask KN-95 or N-95, goggles/face shield)
whereas 153(78.5%) used it.
Conclusion: We
concluded at the end of our study that improper doffing techniques, overuse of
masks for more than 3 days,and infrequent hand washing may be the reasons for
increased rate of infection and need to be dealt promptly.
Keywords: Covid
19 infection, health care workers, high frequency of infection