COVID-19 in Healthcare Personnel

Initial data on vulnerability to, manifestations of, and steps to prevent COVID-19 in healthcare workers are presented in three early studies.

SARS-CoV-2 infection of healthcare personnel (HCP) was inevitable, given that the virus is highly contagious via the respiratory route and appears to be transmitted from symptomatic, presymptomatic, and asymptomatic persons and given the ongoing shortage of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Three groups now report details of early HCP infections with SARS-CoV-2.

Heinzerling and colleagues report HCP exposure from one of the earliest community-acquired cases in Solano County, California, in February 2020. An unsuspected, and therefore undiagnosed patient underwent multiple aerosol-generating procedures while under only standard precautions and exposed an apparent 121 HCP, of whom 35.5% developed COVID-19–compatible symptoms wit…

Reviewing Author

Stephen G. Baum, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardClinical Infectious Diseases

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsMedical Letter

Stephen G. Baum, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardClinical Infectious Diseases

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsMedical Letter

COVID-19 in Healthcare Personnel

Topics

Reviewing Author