COVID-19 Seroepidemiology of Health Care Workers and Compliance with Infection Prevention Standard Precautions in a Large Tertiary Referral Center
Novelty in Biomedicine,
Vol. 14 No. 3 (2026),
25 August 2026
,
Page 141-146
https://doi.org/10.22037/nbm.v14i3.52127
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 has had a massive burden on all the people in the world. Health care workers, as the pioneers of the fight with this disease, are the most susceptible to its morbidity and mortality, and their protection is one major priority of every health care organization and World Health Organization (WHO). In this study, risk factors and infection rate in health care workers (HCW) with regard to compliance with standard precautions were studied.
Materials and Methods: A total of 200 health care workers of a hospital enrolled in this study. Epidemiologic and professional information (sex, age, job, travel, contact with patients, use of protective facilities) were recorded in a predesigned questionnaire. SARS CO-V2 antibodies (IgG and IgM) were evaluated by the ELISA sandwich method, indicating infection. Results were analyzed by SPSS 27.
Results: In this study on 200 HCWs, 68% (136) of subjects were female and 32% (64) were male. 92 (46%) HCWs were seropositive with no sex difference. There was no significant difference in seropositivity based on job (medical and nonmedical), history of travel, and contact with patients at home or hospital. Also, contact with patients’ aerosols and use of their belongings had no significant effect on seropositivity of HCWs. There was no difference in the use of protective equipment in both seropositive and seronegative and two-sex groups. But use of gloves, gowns, and glass by medical workers was significantly more than non-medicals.
Conclusion: The burden of this disease is great for health care workers. Notification and compliance with standard precautions (SPs) are essential health subjects for both HCWs and patients. We need more education and encouragement for more compliance with standard precautions until recognition of the epidemiology and pathology of new emerging infectious diseases.
- COVID-19
- Health care workers
- Standard precautions
- Seroconversion
How to Cite
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