High infection risk among health care workers during the first SARS-CoV-2 wave in Niamey, Niger

BACKGROUND

In 2020, the new pathogen SARS‐CoV‐2 spread fast, causing a pandemic. Health care workers on the frontline were of course highly exposed. This study aims to analyze the risk factors of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in HCWs who have been in contact with positive patients in Niger.

METHODS

A prospective cohort was conducted among HCWs from March 2020 to June 2020 in health facilities in Niamey. A questionnaire was administered at inclusion; RT‐PCR testing was performed if clinical signs were present. Serological testing was performed at baseline, Days 15 and 30. Univariate analysis and Cox regression were used.

RESULTS

Regarding inclusion criteria, 129 health care workers were included. The sex ratio (male/female) was 0.82. The participants were mainly physicians (45.7%) and nurses (34.1%). At inclusion, the prevalence of COVID‐19 was 34.9%. Only seronegative (n= 84) were followed up; the attack incidence rate for the first month was 440 per 1000 person*month. Regarding the Cox model, the use of alcohol‐based hand washing was a protective factor (RR = 0.28, p= 0.01). Furthermore, females were more at risk than males (RR = 2, p‐value = 0.049).

CONCLUSIONS

HCWs in Niger were faced with high infection risk; this should lead decision‐makers to (i) enhance training on preventive measures and (ii) boost access to personal protective equipment in emergency and infectious disease wards.