Healthcare Workers' SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Four Hospital Outbreaks during Delta Variant Prevalence in Sydney, Australia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections due to occupational exposure. The use of airborne personal protective equipment (PPE) significantly reduces this risk. In June 2021, an epidemic of the Delta variant began in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Concurrent PPE guidelines, set by the Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC), restricted the use of respirators.

Objective

To understand the relationship of PPE guidelines with workplace-acquired HCW SARS-CoV-2 infections in different clinical settings and to examine the relationship between rates of community transmission and workplace-acquired HCW infections during the Delta outbreak in NSW.

Methods

Total SARS-CoV-2 HCW infections between 13 June and 30 October 2021 (first four months of th

SUBMITTER: Hutchinson D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10513866 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature