Assessment of medical staff adherence to infection control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The organization of an effective infection control system is one of the main tasks of medical organizations to prevent the occurrence and spread of infections associated with the provision of medical care (ISMP). In connection with the pandemic of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) that has engulfed all countries of the world, the problem of ISMP and infection control (IC) in medical organizations has become particularly relevant. The aim of the study was to assess the adherence of medical workers to the principles of IC in the departments for patients with COVID-19 and to determine the occupational risk factors of infection of personnel during the pre-vaccination period of the pandemic. The study included medical workers of «covid» hospital departments (n = 216; age 25–54 years), of which 105 doctors (41.7 %), average medical workers (nurses and nurses) — 111 people (58.3 %). All employees were trained in biological safety and conducting sanitary and anti-epidemic measures with COVID-19 before starting work in the hospital. In most of the staff (114 people, 52.8 ± 8.7 %), the compliance of the IC was assessed as high in the absence of detection of violations of the requirements of infectious safety. The average degree of adherence to IR measures was found in 102 observed medical workers (47.2 ± 9.9 %). In the cohort of medical workers with a high degree of adherence to IR measures, 2 people suffered a new coronavirus infection, which is 1.8 ± 0.5 %, while among the staff with a moderate degree of adherence (n = 102) 10 people (9.8 ± 2.2 %). The difference between the indicators is statistically significant at p < 0.001 and indicates a smaller (5.4 times) number of COVID-19 cases in the cohort of health workers with a high degree of compliance with IR measures. There was no dependence of the degree of adherence of medical personnel to the principles of IC on the age, gender, medical experience and functionality of medical workers. Nosocomial cases of COVID-19 that occurred during monitoring of compliance with the requirements of the IC were characterized by polymorphism of clinical manifestations with leading respiratory syndrome, the presence of mild and moderate forms and the predominance of average medical staff among the sick. Thus, IC in the conditions of global biological threats requires constant, complete and adequate training of medical personnel in various forms, systematic professional development of all personnel on issues of hospital hygiene and infectious occupational safety, including regular annual refresher courses.