Low rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection in picu workers caring for COVID-19 adults and children

AIMS & OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the risk of SARSCoV-2 infection in health care workers (HCW) in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) forced to attend adult patients during COVID-19 pandemic METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted in a Spanish tertiary care hospital from March to May 2020 SARS-CoV-2 serology tests were performed to all HCW The PICU attended COVID-19 adult patients between March 19th and April 24th of 2020 Safety preventive measures taken in the PICU and characteristics of the infected HCW were analyzed RESULTS: A total of 105 HCW worked in the PICU during COVID-19 pandemic: 78 nurses or nurse assistants and 27 physicians Serology tests resulted positive in 6 out of 105 (5 7%) PICU HCW versus 1224 out of 8384 (14 6%) hospital HCW (χ2 6 7;p=0 009) The characteristics of the 6 infected PICU HCW were the following: 5 females;median age: 36 5 years (IQR: 29 5-41);position: 1 nurse assistant and 5 nurses;4 were symptomatic and 4 had a positive/symptomatic co-habitant Safety preventive measures, such as ventilation of shared spaces, compulsory surgical mask wearing, restriction of visits, and training on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), were taken earlier in the PICU than in the rest of the hospital (from February 26th, 1 week earlier) Likewise lack of PPE, documented in other hospital units, was not a problem in the PICU CONCLUSIONS: HCW were less frequently infected in the PICU than in the rest of the hospital, likely resulting from implementing early safety preventive measures and adequate availability of PPE