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Master of Public Health

COVID-19-Associated Hospitalizations Among Health Care Personnel - COVID-NET, 13 States, March 1-May 31, 2020

AUTHORS

Kambhampati AK , O'Halloran AC , Whitaker M , Magill SS , Chea N , Chai SJ , Daily Kirley P , Herlihy RK , Kawasaki B , Meek J , Yousey-Hindes K , Anderson EJ , Openo KP , Monroe ML , Ryan PA , Kim S , Reeg L , Como-Sabetti K , Danila R , Davis SS , Torres S , Barney G , Spina NL , Bennett NM , Felsen CB , Billing LM , Shiltz J , Sutton M , West N , Schaffner W , Talbot HK , Chatelain R , Hill M , Brammer L , Fry AM , Hall AJ , Wortham JM , Garg S , Kim L , , . MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report. 2020 10 30; 69(43). 1576-1583

ABSTRACT

Health care personnel (HCP) can be exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), both within and outside the workplace, increasing their risk for infection. Among 6,760 adults hospitalized during March 1-May 31, 2020, for whom HCP status was determined by the COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET), 5.9% were HCP. Nursing-related occupations (36.3%) represented the largest proportion of HCP hospitalized with COVID-19. Median age of hospitalized HCP was 49 years, and 89.8% had at least one underlying medical condition, of which obesity was most commonly reported (72.5%). A substantial proportion of HCP with COVID-19 had indicators of severe disease: 27.5% were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU), 15.8% required invasive mechanical ventilation, and 4.2% died during hospitalization. HCP can have severe COVID-19-associated illness, highlighting the need for continued infection prevention and control in health care settings as well as community mitigation efforts to reduce transmission.

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