Clinical Symptom Patterns as Predictors of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Healthcare Workers in Puerto Rico

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, has posed major risks for healthcare workers (HCWs) worldwide. This study assessed the prevalence of infection and its relationship with demographic and clinical characteristics among HCWs at the University of Puerto Rico Adult Hospital. A total of 132 individuals were enrolled, of whom six tested positive (4.55%). The study population was predominantly female (78.8%) with a mean age of 41 years, and although men showed higher odds of infection (OR = 3.98), the difference was not significant. Symptom presence was strongly associated with infection: 7.4% of symptomatic participants tested positive compared to none of the asymptomatic (p < 0.001). Symptom count was also predictive, with those reporting three to four symptoms showing the highest positivity rate (14.8%) and those with five to ten symptoms at 6.7%. Specific symptoms including muscle pain (OR = 21.04, p = 0.002), taste loss (OR = 24.20, p = 0.002), smell loss (OR = 15.25, p = 0.024), and fever (OR = 20.50, p = 0.016) were significantly linked to infection, while others such as headache and congestion were not. These findings underscore the utility of symptom-based monitoring in occupational health, though the single-site design, modest sample size, reliance on self-report, and early pandemic diagnostic limitations may have led to underestimation of true cases.