Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32897443›Full record

ArticleEuropean archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery2021

Results of a national web-based survey on the SARS-CoV-2 infectious state of otorhinolaryngologists in Germany.

Michael Herzog, Achim G Beule, Jan-Christoffer Lüers, Orlando Guntinas-Lichius, Leigh J Sowerby, Daniel Grafmans

Open access · bronzeAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 22% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.

Michael HerzogDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, Carl-Thiem-Klinikum, Thiemstr. 111, 03048, Cottbus, Germany. M.Herzog@ctk.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3091-0331
Achim G BeuleDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Münster, Munster, Germany.
Jan-Christoffer LüersDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Orlando Guntinas-LichiusDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany.
Leigh J SowerbyDepartment of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
Daniel GrafmansDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, Carl-Thiem-Klinikum, Thiemstr. 111, 03048, Cottbus, Germany.
Carl-Thiem-Klinikum Cottbus · DEJena University Hospital · DEUniversitätsmedizin Greifswald · DEUniversity of Cologne · DEWestern University · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeSARS-CoV-2 is detected on the mucosa of the upper airways to a high degree. In the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, otorhinolaryngologists (ORL) are assumed to be at high risk due to close contact with the mucosa of the upper airways. No data are yet available providing evidence that ORLs have an increased risk of infection.

methodsGerman ORLs were invited via e-mail through the German Society of ORL, Head and Neck Surgery and the German ENT Association to participate in a web-based survey about infection with SARS-CoV-2 and development of COVID-19. Data of infections and concomitant parameters in German ORLs were collected and compared to the total number of infections in Germany.

resultsOut of 6383 German ORLs, 970 (15%) participated. 54 ORLs reported testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. Compared to the total population of Germany, ORLs have a relative risk of 3.67 (95% CI 2.82; 4.79) of contracting SARS-CoV-2. Domestic quarantine was conducted in 96.3% of cases. Two individuals were admitted to hospital without intensive care. No casualties were reported. In 31 cases, the source of infection was not identifiable whereas 23 had a clear medical aetiology: infected patients: n = 5, 9.26%; medical staff: n = 13, 14.1%. 9.26% (n = 5) of the identified cases were related to contact to infected family members (n = 3), closer neighbourhood (n = 1) or general public (n = 1). There was no identified increased risk of infection due to performing surgery.

conclusionGerman ORLs have an almost 3.7-fold risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 compared to the population baseline level. Appropriate protection appears to be necessary for this occupational group.

Indexed as

COVID-19InternetOccupational HealthOtolaryngologyPhysiciansSARS-CoV-2GermanyHumansInfectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-ProfessionalInfectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-PatientPandemicsPersonal Protective EquipmentCOVID-19ENTHealth care workerORLSARS-CoV-2Upper airway

Identifiers

PMID32897443
PMCPMC7477736
OpenAlexW3083753412

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.