Management of Risk Factors for Health Care Workers After Initial Contact with Patients Infected with SARS-COV-2 in Niamey, The Center of the Epidemic in Niger

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe covid-19 pandemic is caused by a new corona virus called SARS Cov-2. Health care workers are particularly exposed target.Aimthis study aims to analyze the risk factors of SARS-Cov-2 infection in health workers who have been in contact with positive patient.MethodsThis is a prospective cohort conducted among health workers from March 2022 to January 2021 in health care facilities in Niamey. A questionnaire was administrated at inclusion. rRT-PCR was performed if clinical signs were present. ELISA testing was performed at baseline, day15 and day 30. The chi-square or Fisher test, Kaplan-Meir survival model, Cow regression and logistic regression were used as statistical test.Results259 health workers were included. More than half of the respondents were female. 45.95% of the participants were nurses and 36.68% were physicians. The prevalence of Covid-19 was 28.8%. 56.4% of the participants had positive serology at day 30. The risk factors associated with Covid-19 were professional category (p=0.024). Membership structure (p<0.001) and the chronic liver disease (p=0.034). Hand hygiene (p=0.019) and alcohol-based hand cleaning (p<0.001) protects against the occurrence of SARS-Cov-2 infection. According to the characterization of the preventive measures those who practiced them rarely were associated with a positive rRT-PCR and those who practice them occasionally or most of the time were associated with negative serology and rRT-PCR.ConclusionComorbidities, function and affiliation are the main risk factors for Covid-19 and hand hygiene is a protective factor.