Monitoramento epidemiológico da Covid-19 em profissionais de saúde: efeitos da vacinação no cenário hospitalar

Abstract

Health professionals (PS) around the world mobilize efforts to face COVID-19, a disease caused by the infection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The work activities of these professionals contribute greatly to greater exposure to the virus. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the removal of HP infected by the virus has led to a decrease in human resources in the health area, culminating in frequent relocations, work overload and stress for substitute professionals, which in some cases has led to greater risk of infection. Although the development of vaccines has contributed to combating the pandemic, the emergence of new variants has posed challenges to the PS who work on the front lines. In view of the above, this study aimed to monitor cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in ERs in the hospital environment before and after vaccination against COVID-19. This observational longitudinal study was conducted in a hospital unit accredited for outpatient care, clinical hospitalization and intensive care of patients with COVID-19 throughout the Lavras micro-region. A documentary research was carried out at the Hospital Epidemiological Surveillance Service (SVEH) about professionals who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Of the 455 PS at the institution, 197 tested positive, between June 2020 and November 2022, and these were invited to answer a questionnaire that aimed to obtain sociodemographic information, general data about the state of health and information related to COVID-19. A cohort of 123 professionals answered the questionnaire and were included in this analysis. A total of 94 (76.4%) PS were female aged 21 to 69 years. Regarding chronic disease, 30 (24.4%) PS reported at least one comorbidity. The majority, 108 (87.8%) did not smoke. The most affected professional profile was that of nurses (58.6%), followed by cleaning assistants (37.5%) and nursing technicians (31.5%). The sector that treated suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients and the Adult ICU had a higher proportion of positive employees. A total of 116 PS (94.3%) had headache, runny nose, cough, sore throat, chills, loss of taste, loss of smell and fever as the most frequent symptoms. Regarding the vaccination status against COVID-19, 121 (98.4%) PS received the first and second doses of the vaccine, 113 (91.9%) received the three doses and 2 (1.6%) were not vaccinated. Six PS (4.9%) evolved to a severe clinical condition and were hospitalized, 3 (2.4%) in the ICU, with 1 death due to COVID-19. All severe cases occurred in the period prior to vaccination. High adherence to immunization contributed to the absence of serious cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the post-vaccination period, although it did not prevent the occurrence of new cases of infection.