Doctors Spreading SARS-CoV-2 Infection to Their Patients and Health Workers. What is the Likelihood of This Scenario?

In this particular study, we report our experience of eight doctors infected with SARS-CoV-2 and discuss the probability of in-hospital virus transmission to patients or the rest of the hospital personnel. The importance of PPEs is highlighted. We explore the data of eight doctors who were tested po...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Mædica 2021-09, Vol.16 (3), p.435-438
Main Authors: Palla, Effrosyni D, Hajiioannou, Jiannis, Lachanas, Vasileios A, Kalogritsas, Nikos, Saini, Fani, Beka, Despoina, Maiou, Charikleia, Skoulakis, Charalampos
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:In this particular study, we report our experience of eight doctors infected with SARS-CoV-2 and discuss the probability of in-hospital virus transmission to patients or the rest of the hospital personnel. The importance of PPEs is highlighted. We explore the data of eight doctors who were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 after returning from their summer vacation. More specific, we evaluated the time they spent working before they got tested after their return, the symptoms they developed and the results of their tracking through their patients and the rest of hospital workers. All doctors followed their working schedule, ranging from 2-4 days after their summertime off, without knowledge of being infected. They had been keeping all suggested protection precautions, while no further virus transmission to patients and/or other healthcare workers occurred, even though they had close contact and cooperation with many of them. Our experience suggests that, if healthcare workers conform to established safety procedures, the likelihood of further transmission both to patients and their colleagues, even in asymptomatic state, appears to be minimal.
ISSN:1841-9038
2069-6116
DOI:10.26574/maedica.2021.16.3.435