Glatt, Sara Chaya2025-04-042021-12-05Glatt, Sara Chaya. (2021). COVID-19 and health care worker exposure at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. [Masters dissertation, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg]. WIReDSpace. https://hdl.handle.net/10539/44578https://hdl.handle.net/10539/44578A research report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Medicine in the branch of Dermatology, to the Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023.Background: Health care workers (HCWs) are at an increased risk of acquiring coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Appropriate risk assessments and testing are essential to reduce transmission and avoid workforce depletion. Objective: Investigate the risk of COVID-19 infection among HCWs at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital who fulfil the Person Under Investigation (PUI) case definition or had exposure to a confirmed COVID-19 contact. Methods: A retrospective review of HCW records was conducted over a two month period. Data collected included demographics, exposure type, risk level, and COVID-19 test result. Frequency distribution tables, bivariate analyses and univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. Results: Among the 1111 HCWs reviewed, 643 were tested with 35.6% positive results. PUI’s accounted for 62.4% of positive cases. Symptomatic HCWs with no known contact were at a greater risk of infection than those with a patient exposure (p=0.000). Risk of testing positive was higher after a patient exposure (p=0.000) compared to a co-worker contact. Conclusion: There is a higher positivity rate among HCWs than the general population. The presence of symptoms warrants testing. Nosocomial transmission was derived from patient more than co-worker contacts.en©2021 University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.COVID-19Health care workersHealth care worker exposureRisk assessmentSouth AfricaUCTDDissertationUniversity of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgSDG-3: Good health and well-beingSDG-4: Quality education