Low Incidence and Mortality by SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Healthcare Workers in a Health National Center in Mexico: Successful Establishment of an Occupational Medicine Program

• Published in: Frontiers in public health Vol. 9; p. 651144
• Main Authors: Salazar, Miguel Ángel, Chavez-Galan, Leslie, Castorena-Maldonado, Armando, Mateo-Alonso, Maribel, Diaz-Vazquez, Nadia Otilia, Vega-Martínez, Ana María, Martínez-Orozco, José Arturo, Becerril-Vargas, Eduardo, Sosa-Gómez, Fernando Manuel, Patiño-Gallegos, Hilda, Alonso-Martínez, Delfino, López-Segundo, Enrique, Vidal, Fernando, Velasco-González, Luis Joan, Pérez-Pulido, Silvia, Santillán-Doherty, Patricio, Regalado-Pineda, Justino, Salas-Hernández, Jorge, Buendía-Roldán, Ivette
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 13-04-2021
• Subjects: COVID-19; Health Personnel; healthcare workers; Humans; Incidence; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional - prevention & control; Mexico - epidemiology; mitigate risk; Occupational Medicine; personal protective equipment; Public Health; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 infection; Mexico; SARS-CoV-2 infection; personal protective equipment; mitigate risk; occupational medicine; healthcare workers
• DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.651144
• EISSN: 2296-2565

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Healthcare workers (HCWs) constitute a population which is significantly affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection worldwide. In Mexico, the
(INER) is the principal national reference of respiratory diseases.
To evaluate the efficiency of the INER-POL-TRAB-COVID19 program to mitigate the SARS-CoV-2 infection risk among the INER-healthcare workers (INER-HCW).
Currently, the INER has 250 beds and 200 respiratory ventilators to support COVID-19 patients in critical condition. On March 1st, 2020, the INER-POL-TRAB-COVID19 program was launched to mitigate the SARS-CoV-2 infection risk among the INER-HCW.
From March 1st to October 1st, 2020, 71.5% of INER-HCWs were tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection, and 77% of them were frontline workers. Among the tested INER-HCWs, 10.4% were positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nonetheless, nosocomial infection represented only 3.8% of the cases and the mortality was null. Fifty-three of INER-HCWs positive to SARS-CoV-2 had a negative test 42-56 days post-diagnosis and were returned to service. Finally, although a change in the PPE implemented on May 11th, 2020, the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was not affected.
INER has a lower incidence of HCWs infected with SARS-CoV-2 as compared to the mean of the national report. The implementation of the INER-POL-TRAB-COVID19 program is efficient to decrease the risk of infection among the HCWs. Our findings suggest that the implementation of a similar program at a national level can be helpful to provide a safe environment to HCWs and to prevent the collapse of health institutions.