Key points
The Emerging Infections Program (EIP) Project to Address COVID-19 Among Healthcare Workers identified risk factors and characteristics of workers who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
Overview
As part of CDC's Emerging Infections Program (EIP) Healthcare-Associated Infections – Community Interface (HAIC) Activity, the Project to Address COVID-19 Among Healthcare Workers aimed to assess the:
- Characteristics of healthcare workers with positive tests for SARS-CoV-2, including demographics, role in healthcare delivery, clinical activities and personal protective equipment (PPE) use.
- Potential risk or protective factors.
To collect this information, trained professionals conducted surveillance and interviewed healthcare workers who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in 10 EIP sites between 2020-2021. Healthcare worker interviews concluded December 31, 2021.
Public health professionals and healthcare administrators can use these data to inform healthcare facilities policies and procedures to protect the healthcare workforce.
Publications
- Practices and activities among healthcare personnel with severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection working in different healthcare settings—ten Emerging Infections Program sites, April–November 2020 | Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology
- Risk Factors for SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among US Healthcare Personnel, May–December 2020 - Volume 28, Number 1—January 2022 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC
- Residential social vulnerability among healthcare personnel with and without severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in Five US states, May–December 2020 | Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology | Cambridge Core
About the data
Methods
EIP site staff obtained lists of healthcare workers who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 from local or state health department partners or from participating healthcare facilities' occupational health departments or infection control programs.
Data collection
EIP staff members contacted healthcare workers who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by telephone, text messages or e-mail to request participation.
For workers who agreed to participate, EIP staff members either interviewed them by telephone or collected data via an electronic form. Information collected included:
- Demographics.
- Medical conditions.
- Healthcare role.
- Location and activities during potential exposures to SARS-CoV-2.
- PPE use.