A matrix for the evaluation of COVID-19 contact risk in healthcare workers: Technical note
Diğer yayınlar > Diğer · 2020
Yazarlar: Seyfi DURMAZ, İsabel Raika DURUSOY
Diğer, Uluslararası, 2020,
Özet
Abstract Detecting risky contacts and early isolation of healthcare workers who have been in contact with COVID-19 cases will increase the likelihood of limiting the spread of the infection. The aim of this technical note is to propose a reliable, fast-adaptable and easy-to-use matrix that accurately classifies risk for contact tracing of healthcare workers with COVID-19 patients. The researchers have created a matrix with the support of the literature and their experience within the university hospital surveillance team. This matrix enables a detailed High / Medium / Low Risk classification of contacts of healthcare workers with COVID-19 cases, covering many different contact situations encountered in a university hospital. The distinction between different contact risk categories implies different preventive measures: High-risk contacts are isolated at home for 7 days and return to work if they test PCR-negative on day 7; while medium and low risk contacts continue to work using masks, with medium-risk contacts tested on day 7, so it is important to standardize the classification among different interviewers. Three main headings have come to the fore in health worker contact risk classification: 1. Differences caused by the ventilation of the environment: Indoors, well ventilated indoors, outdoors. 2. Direct contact or material sharing. 3. Aerosol generating procedure (AGP). The matrix has been used effectively in 1169 risky contact interviews over a two-month period (24 August - 23 October 2020). It has been evaluated by two groups: the surveillance team using it routinely for contact tracing and by experts. The matrix is quickly adapted by new surveillance team members and is easy to use.