COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers in an oncology hospital

Healthcare workers are at high risk for acquiring COVID-19 and transmitting it to the patients especially to cancer patients in whom the risk of severe COVID-19 is high. We determined the rate of COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers in an oncology hospital and their epidemiological characteristics.

Data of infected workers from March 11, 2020, to February 28, 2022 were obtained via Infection Control Committee COVID-19 Surveillance Records and evaluated retrospectively.

During this period 58.34% of 2,355 workers were vaccinated with > 3 doses of COVID-19 vaccines. A total of 1,294 COVID-19 attacks developed in 1,181 (50.14%) workers; mean age was 38.08 ± 9.52 years, 744 (63%) were female. Re-infection occurred in 112 (9.5%) workers. Source of infection in 858 attacks (66.31%) was unknown. Hospitalization was needed in 24 (2%) and intensive care unit admission in 1 (0.08%), no death occurred. In the first attacks, 587 (49.70%) were unvaccinated; in re-infections 66 (58.92%) were ≥ 3 doses vaccinated. Hospitalizations were predominantly in the pre-Delta period (16/24: 66.7%, p < 0.05). Re-infections occurred mostly in the Omicron variant period (p < 0.05). Relationship between hospitalization and male gender, age ≥ 50 years, "doctor" profession and presence of chronic diseases were significant (p < 0.05).

During the study period, half of the healthcare workers in our hospital developed COVID-19 infection of whom 9.5% re-infected, predominantly during the Omicron variant period. Our findings highlight the importance of taking preventive measures and administering booster vaccine doses even after initial vaccination/infection.