Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39307426›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of hospital infection2025

Infection prevention and control risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection in health workers: a global, multi-centre, case-control study.

A Cassini, Y Mo, A Simniceanu, G Gon, B J Cowling, B Allegranzi, COVID-19 in Health Workers Collaborative Group

Abstract readMulticenter Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of hospital infection, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
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

7 authors.

A CassiniInfection Prevention and Control Hub and Task Force, Integrated Health Services, UHC/Life Course, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Office of the Cantonal Doctor, Geneva, Switzerland.
Y MoCentre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Division of Infectious Diseases, University Medicine Cluster, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
A SimniceanuInfection Prevention and Control Hub and Task Force, Integrated Health Services, UHC/Life Course, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Emerging Diseases and Zoonoses Unit, Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Department, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Institute of Global Health, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
G GonDepartment of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
B J CowlingWHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
B AllegranziInfection Prevention and Control Hub and Task Force, Integrated Health Services, UHC/Life Course, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: allegranzib@who.int.
COVID-19 in Health Workers Collaborative Group

Funding

World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHealth workers were at higher risk for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic due to occupational risk factors. This study aimed to characterize these risk factors as part of the World Health Organization (WHO) Unity Studies initiative.

methodsThis global, multi-centre, nested, case-control study was conducted in 121 healthcare facilities in 21 countries. Cases were health workers who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection with documented occupational exposure to COVID-19 patients in the 14 days pre-enrolment. Controls were enrolled from the same facilities with similar exposure but negative serology. Case and control status was confirmed with serological testing at baseline and after 3-4 weeks. Demographic and infection risk factor data were collected using structured questionnaires.

findingsBetween June 2020 and December 2021, data were obtained for 1213 cases and 1844 controls. Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with non-adherence to personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32-2.12] and not performing hand hygiene consistently after patient contact (aOR 2.52, 95% CI 1.72-3.68). Direct close contact with COVID-19 patients was also associated with increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly during prolonged contact (>15 min). Items associated with lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection were use of a respirator during aerosol-generating procedures; and use of gloves, and a gown or coverall during contact with contaminated materials/surfaces. No difference was observed between health workers using respirators vs surgical masks for routine care.

conclusionAppropriate implementation of infection prevention and control measures and use of PPE remain a priority to protect health workers from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Indexed as

COVID-19Health PersonnelInfection ControlOccupational ExposureAdultCase-Control StudiesFemaleGlobal HealthHand HygieneHumansInfectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-ProfessionalMaleMiddle AgedPersonal Protective EquipmentRisk FactorsSARS-CoV-2AdherenceCOVID-19Health workersInfection prevention and controlOccupational risk factorsPersonal protective equipmentSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID39307426
PMCPMC11748119

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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.