Investigation of asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers among healthcare workers

Year 2024, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 33 - 38, 30.12.2024

Mehmet Solak , Berrak Çakmakçı , Sarper Kızılkaya , Hüseyin Güdücüoğlu

Abstract

Purpose: The COVID-19 infection can lead to diverse clinical consequences, ranging from mild symptomatic cases to severe respiratory failure and potential fatality. Asymptomatic cases can also be seen and individuals who are considered to be asymptomatic can spread the disease. This study aims to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 asymptomatic cases among healthcare workers.
Material and Method: A total of 320 oropharyngeal samples were collected from individuals who are considered to be asymptomatic. The samples were then subjected to Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2 detection
Results: A total of 320 healthcare workers volunteered to participate. Healthcare workers showing clinical symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 were excluded from participation in this study. Among the participants, 45% were doctors, 13.75% were nurses, and 12.5% were intern doctors. The gender distribution was 60% male and 40% female. Additionally, 52.8% (169 participants) reported a history of prior COVID-19 infection. All of the 320 participant’s samples were tested with RT-PCR found to be negative.
Conclusion: During this exit period from strict quarantine measures, it is crucial to prevent silent infection among asymptomatic carriers in addition to identifying and isolating the COVID-19 positive individuals

Keywords

COVID-19, ASYMPTOMATIC CARRIER, health worker

Project Number

2023/270

Thanks

Special thanks to our study group: Kurtuluş O., Nayman A.H., Uran I., Doğan B.F., Dallıoğlu E, Paçacı M.C., Şenödeyeci E.; and thanks to Güdücüoğlu D., Şenödeyici D. for their support to the Project

Sağlık çalışanlarında asemptomatik COVID-19 taşıyıcılığının araştırılması

Abstract

Amaç: COVID-19 enfeksiyonu, hafif semptomatik vakalardan ciddi solunum yetmezliği ve potansiyel ölüme kadar değişen çeşitli klinik sonuçlara yol açabilir. Asemptomatik vakalar da görülebilir ve asemptomatik olduğu düşünülen bireyler hastalığı yayabilir. Bu çalışmada sağlık çalışanları arasında COVID-19 asemptomatik vaka prevalansını belirlemek amaçlanmıştır
Gereç ve Yöntem: Asemptomatik olduğu düşünülen bireylerden toplam 320 orofaringeal örnek toplanmıştır. Örnekler daha sonra SARS-CoV-2 tespiti için Ters Transkripsiyon Polimeraz Zincir Reaksiyonuna (RT-PCR) tabi tutulmuştur.
Bulgular: Toplam 320 sağlık çalışanı çalışmaya gönüllü olarak katılmıştır. COVID-19'u düşündüren klinik semptomlar gösteren sağlık çalışanları bu çalışmaya katılmamıştır. Katılımcıların %45'i doktor, %13,75'i hemşire ve %12,5'i stajyer doktordu. Cinsiyet dağılımı %60 erkek ve %40 kadın şeklindeydi. Ayrıca, katılımcıların %52,8'i (169 katılımcı) daha önce COVID-19 enfeksiyonu geçirdiğini bildirmiştir.
Sonuç: 320 katılımcının tüm numuneleri RT-PCR ile test edilmiş ve negatif bulunmuştur. Sıkı karantina önlemlerinden çıktığımız bu dönemde, COVID-19 pozitif bireylerin belirlenmesi ve izole edilmesinin yanı sıra asemptomatik taşıyıcılar arasında gizli bir enfeksiyon bulaşının önlenmesi de çok önemli olduğu düşünülmektedir

Keywords

COVID-19, asemptomatik taşıyıcı, sağlık çalışanı

Project Number

2023/270

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