AUTHOR=Salazar Miguel Ángel , Chavez-Galan Leslie , Castorena-Maldonado Armando , Mateo-Alonso Maribel , Diaz-Vazquez Nadia Otilia , Vega-Martínez Ana María , Martínez-Orozco José Arturo , Becerril-Vargas Eduardo , Sosa-Gómez Fernando Manuel , Patiño-Gallegos Hilda , Alonso-Martínez Delfino , López-Segundo Enrique , Vidal Fernando , Velasco-González Luis Joan , Pérez-Pulido Silvia , Santillán-Doherty Patricio , Regalado-Pineda Justino , Salas-Hernández Jorge , Buendía-Roldán Ivette 

TITLE=Low Incidence and Mortality by SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Healthcare Workers in a Health National Center in Mexico: Successful Establishment of an Occupational Medicine Program

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.651144

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2021.651144

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Healthcare workers (HCWs) constitute a population which is significantly affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection worldwide. In Mexico, the <italic>Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias</italic> (INER) is the principal national reference of respiratory diseases.</p><p><bold>Aim:</bold> To evaluate the efficiency of the INER-POL-TRAB-COVID19 program to mitigate the SARS-CoV-2 infection risk among the INER-healthcare workers (INER-HCW).</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Currently, the INER has 250 beds and 200 respiratory ventilators to support COVID-19 patients in critical condition. On March 1st, 2020, the INER-POL-TRAB-COVID19 program was launched to mitigate the SARS-CoV-2 infection risk among the INER-HCW.</p><p><bold>Findings:</bold> From March 1st to October 1st, 2020, 71.5% of INER-HCWs were tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection, and 77% of them were frontline workers. Among the tested INER-HCWs, 10.4% were positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nonetheless, nosocomial infection represented only 3.8% of the cases and the mortality was null. Fifty-three of INER-HCWs positive to SARS-CoV-2 had a negative test 42–56 days post-diagnosis and were returned to service. Finally, although a change in the PPE implemented on May 11th, 2020, the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was not affected.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> INER has a lower incidence of HCWs infected with SARS-CoV-2 as compared to the mean of the national report. The implementation of the INER-POL-TRAB-COVID19 program is efficient to decrease the risk of infection among the HCWs. Our findings suggest that the implementation of a similar program at a national level can be helpful to provide a safe environment to HCWs and to prevent the collapse of health institutions.</p>