TY - JOUR
T1 - Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers with insufficient use of personal protective equipment in Denmark
AU - Bungum, Ane Berger
AU - Tøttenborg, Sandra Søgaard
AU - Begtrup, Luise Mølenberg
AU - Petersen, Kajsa Ugelvig
AU - Worm, Maja Søndergård
AU - Bonde, Jens Peter
AU - Dalbøge, Annett
AU - Kinnerup, Martin Byskov
AU - Würtz, Else Toft
AU - Kolstad, Henrik Albert
AU - Schlünssen, Vivi
AU - Cramer, Christine
AU - Biering, Karin
AU - Nielsen, Kent Jacob
AU - Meulengracht Flachs, Esben
N1 - © The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact [email protected] for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact [email protected].
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - AIM: The aim was to evaluate the role of insufficient use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk for healthcare workers (HCW) during the COVID-19 pandemic.METHODS: Prospective study within the COBRA cohort, including 15,127 HCW. Daily assessment of insufficient use of PPE, defined as self-reported PPE failure or noncompliance, in relation to SARS-CoV-2 infection ascertained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Statistical analysis involved calculating incidence rate ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI).RESULTS: The included HCW contributed to 780,515 risk days including 67,723 d (8.7%) with insufficient PPE use and 133 events (positive PCR test). Self-reported insufficient use of PPE was slightly associated with infection with COVID-19 in HCW, but the data were statistically consistent with parameter values ranging from a protective effect to a to a doubling in risk (IRR 1.3, 95% CI 0.8; 2.3). Sensitivity analyses restricted to high-risk departments and to a period with a sufficient supply of PPE and a fully developed testing system, respectively, confirmed these findings.CONCLUSION: Insufficient use of PPE among HCW during the pandemic in Denmark was uncommon but associated with a slightly increased risk of COVID-19 among HCW. However, the findings are uncertain due to the limited number of cases and the potential for misclassification bias stemming from the self-reported nature of the exposure.
AB - AIM: The aim was to evaluate the role of insufficient use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk for healthcare workers (HCW) during the COVID-19 pandemic.METHODS: Prospective study within the COBRA cohort, including 15,127 HCW. Daily assessment of insufficient use of PPE, defined as self-reported PPE failure or noncompliance, in relation to SARS-CoV-2 infection ascertained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Statistical analysis involved calculating incidence rate ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI).RESULTS: The included HCW contributed to 780,515 risk days including 67,723 d (8.7%) with insufficient PPE use and 133 events (positive PCR test). Self-reported insufficient use of PPE was slightly associated with infection with COVID-19 in HCW, but the data were statistically consistent with parameter values ranging from a protective effect to a to a doubling in risk (IRR 1.3, 95% CI 0.8; 2.3). Sensitivity analyses restricted to high-risk departments and to a period with a sufficient supply of PPE and a fully developed testing system, respectively, confirmed these findings.CONCLUSION: Insufficient use of PPE among HCW during the pandemic in Denmark was uncommon but associated with a slightly increased risk of COVID-19 among HCW. However, the findings are uncertain due to the limited number of cases and the potential for misclassification bias stemming from the self-reported nature of the exposure.
U2 - 10.1093/annweh/wxae075
DO - 10.1093/annweh/wxae075
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 39412149
JO - Annals of Occupational Hygiene
JF - Annals of Occupational Hygiene
SN - 2398-7308
ER -