Demographic, clinical and radiological features of healthcare workers and two index cases that were infected with COVID-19 (SARS-Cov-2)

Ayse Erturk¹, Ugur Kostakoglu¹, Ilknur Esen Yildiz¹, Nur Hursoy², Sevda Ozdemir Al¹, SongulOzyurt³, Neslihan Ozcelik³, Hatice Beyazal Polat⁴, Aysegul Copur Cicek⁵

¹Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Rize, Turkey - 

²Recep Tayyip ErdoganUniversity, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Rize, Turkey - ³Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine Recep Tayyip Erdogan University - ⁴Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Rize, Turkey  - ⁵Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Rize, Turkey

Introduction: To evaluate the index cases leading to the transmission of healthcare workers (HCWs) in Rize/Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Faculty of Medicine Education and Research Hospital with COVID-19 infection and the clinical features of infected HCWs.

Method: The first two COVID-19 test positive patients treated at Rize/Turkey between 10.03.2020 and 12.04.2020 and HCWs those who examined these two patients whose COVID-19 PCR test results were positive were included in this study.  

Results: In Rize/Turkey, the first and second cases of positive COVID-19 which was recorded on 13.03.2020 on 25.03.2020, 27 HCWs (female, 63%, n=17 and male, 37%, n=10 and the mean age was 33.2±6.9 years) who contacted during the treatment of these cases and became COVID-19 positive were examined.

The median of symptom duration (days) of the HCWs was 5 days (range: 0-17 days). Fever, 55.6% (n=15); malaise, 44.4% (n=12); cough, 40.7% (n=11); sore throat, 33.3% (n=9); myalgia, 33.3% (n=9); dyspnea, 14.8% (n=4); diarrhea, 22.2% (n=6); vomiting, 14.8% (n=4); anosmia, 18.5% (n=5); ageusia, 22.2% (n=6) and headache, 37% (n=10) of the cases. The rates of headache in female HCWs infected with COVID-19 were found to be significantly higher compared to men (52.9%). None of them had severe clinical situation requiring intensive care follow-up or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). 

Laboratory measurements of HCWs were carried out at the first when they had symptoms and when they recovered, and results were compared accordingly. The thorax computerized tomography (CT) findings of HCWs were normal in 74.1% (n=20) of total.   

Conclusion: HCWs were initially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Early measures provided by the Health authorities, access to diagnosis and treatment, and the young age average in HCWs prevented severe outcomes such as severe clinical course and mortality at the beginning of the outbreak.