Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-wg55d Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-31T18:03:04.178Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Absenteeism and presenteeism in healthcare workers due to respiratory illness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 November 2020

Stefan P. Kuster Open the ORCID record for Stefan P. Kuster [Opens in a new window] ,
Jürg Böni ,
Roger D. Kouyos ,
Michael Huber ,
Stefan Schmutz ,
Cyril Shah ,
Heike A. Bischoff-Ferrari ,
Oliver Distler ,
Edouard Battegay  and
Pietro Giovanoli
...Show all authors
Stefan P. Kuster*
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Jürg Böni
Affiliation:
Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Roger D. Kouyos
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Michael Huber
Affiliation:
Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Stefan Schmutz
Affiliation:
Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Cyril Shah
Affiliation:
Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Heike A. Bischoff-Ferrari
Affiliation:
Department of Geriatrics and Aging Research, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Switzerland
Oliver Distler
Affiliation:
Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Edouard Battegay
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Pietro Giovanoli
Affiliation:
Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Matthias Guckenberger
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Malcolm Kohler
Affiliation:
Pulmonary Division, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Rouven Müller
Affiliation:
Hematology, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Heidi Petry
Affiliation:
University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Frank Ruschitzka
Affiliation:
University Heart Center, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Allison McGeer
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Sinai Health System, and University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Brenda L. Coleman
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Sinai Health System, and University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Hugo Sax
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Rainer Weber
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Alexandra Trkola
Affiliation:
Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
*
Author for correspondence: Stefan P. Kuster, MD, Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100 / HAL14 D6, 8091Zürich, Switzerland. E-mail: stefan.kuster@uzh.ch
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

To assess influenza symptoms, adherence to mask use recommendations, absenteesm and presenteeism in acute care healthcare workers (HCWs) during influenza epidemics.

Methods:

The TransFLUas influenza transmission study in acute healthcare prospectively followed HCWs prospectively over 2 consecutive influenza seasons. Symptom diaries asking for respiratory symptoms and adherence with mask use recommendations were recorded on a daily basis, and study participants provided midturbinate nasal swabs for influenza testing.

Results:

In total, 152 HCWs (65.8% nurses and 13.2% physicians) were included: 89.1% of study participants reported at least 1 influenza symptom during their study season and 77.8% suffered from respiratory symptoms. Also, 28.3% of HCW missed at least 1 working day during the study period: 82.6% of these days were missed because of symptoms of influenza illness. Of all participating HCWs, 67.9% worked with symptoms of influenza infection on 8.8% of study days. On 0.3% of study days, symptomatic HCWs were shedding influenza virus while at work. Among HCWs with respiratory symptoms, 74.1% adhered to the policy to wear a mask at work on 59.1% of days with respiratory symptoms.

Conclusions:

Respiratory disease is frequent among HCWs and imposes a significant economic burden on hospitals due to the number of working days lost. Presenteesm with respiratory illness, including influenza, is also frequent and poses a risk for patients and staff.

Trial registration:

NCT02478905 (clinicaltrials.gov)

Type
Original Article
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 42 , Issue 3 , March 2021 , pp. 268 - 273
Check for updates
Copyright
© 2020 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved.

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Hansen, V, Oren, E, Dennis, LK, Brown, HE. Infectious disease mortality trends in the United States, 1980–2014. JAMA 2016;316:2149–2151.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Armstrong, GL, Conn, LA, Pinner, RW. Trends in infectious disease mortality in the United States during the 20th century. JAMA 1999;281:61–66.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Teresa, L-C, Alicia, L, Rocio, P-S, et al. Trends in infectious disease mortality rates, Spain, 1980–2011. Emerg Infect Dis 2014;20:782.Google Scholar
Paules, C, Subbarao, K. Influenza. Lancet 2017;390:697–708.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
BAG. Empfehlungen zur Grippeimpfung. Richtlinien und Empfehlungen. In: BAG, editor. Bern: Bundesamt für Gesundheit; 2011.Google Scholar
Kucera, J, Krummenacher, A. 01 Bevölkerung. In: Bf, Statistik, editor. Statistik der Schweiz ed. Neuchâtel: Bundesamt für Statistik; 2018.Google Scholar
Kuster, SP, Drews, S, Green, K, et al. Epidemiology of influenza-associated hospitalization in adults, Toronto, 2007/8. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2010;29:835–843.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kuster, SP, Katz, KC, Blair, J, et al. When should a diagnosis of influenza be considered in adults requiring intensive care unit admission? Results of population-based active surveillance in Toronto. Crit Care 2011;15(4):R182.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kuster, SP, Coleman, BL, Raboud, J, et al. Risk factors for influenza among healthcare workers during 2009 pandemic, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Emerg Infect Dis 2013;19:606–615.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Menec, VH, MacWilliam, L, Aoki, FY. Hospitalizations and deaths due to respiratory illnesses during influenza seasonsa comparison of community residents, senior housing residents, and nursing home residents. J Gerontol A 2002;57(10):M629–M635.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pagani, L, Thomas, Y, Huttner, B, et al. Transmission and effect of multiple clusters of seasonal influenza in a Swiss geriatric hospital. J Am Geriatr Soc 2015;63:739–744.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Voirin, N, Barret, B, Metzger, MH, Vanhems, P. Hospital-acquired influenza: a synthesis using the Outbreak Reports and Intervention Studies of Nosocomial Infection (ORION) statement. J Hosp Infect 2009;71:1–14.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vanhems, P, Bénet, T, Munier-Marion, E. Nosocomial influenza: encouraging insights and future challenges. Curr Opin Infect Dis 2016;29:366–372.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Huttunen, R, Syrjanen, J. Healthcare workers as vectors of infectious diseases. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2014;33:1477–1488.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rao, S, Nyquist, AC. Respiratory viruses and their impact in healthcare. Curr Opin Infect Dis 2014;27:342–347.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Esbenshade, JC, Edwards, KM, Esbenshade, AJ, et al. Respiratory virus shedding in a cohort of on-duty healthcare workers undergoing prospective surveillance. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2013;34(4):373–378.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mossad, SB, Deshpande, A, Schramm, S, Liu, X, Rothberg, MB. Working despite having influenza-like illness: results of an anonymous survey of healthcare providers who care for transplant recipients. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:966–969.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jiang, L, McGeer, A, McNeil, S, et al. Which healthcare workers work with acute respiratory illness? Evidence from Canadian acute-care hospitals during 4 influenza seasons: 2010–2011 to 2013–2014. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2019;40:889–896.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schwarz, H, Boni, J, Kouyos, RD, et al. The TransFLUas influenza transmission study in acute healthcare—recruitment rates and protocol adherence in healthcare workers and inpatients. BMC Infect Dis 2019;19(1):446.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Charlson, ME, Pompei, P, Ales, KL, MacKenzie, CR. A new method of classifying prognostic comorbidity in longitudinal studies: development and validation. J Chronic Dis 1987;40:373–383.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Harrell, FE. Overview of maximum likelihood estimation. In: Regression Modeling Strategies with Applications to Linear Models, Logistic Regression, and Survival Models. New York: Springer; 2001:179–213.Google Scholar
LaVela, S, Goldstein, B, Smith, B, Weaver, FM. Working with symptoms of a respiratory infection: staff who care for high-risk individuals. Am J Infect Control 2007;35:448–454.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Prevention strategies for seasonal influenza in healthcare settings. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/healthcaresettings.htm. Accessed August 15, 2019.Google Scholar
MacIntyre, CR, Chughtai, AA, Rahman, B, et al. The efficacy of medical masks and respirators against respiratory infection in healthcare workers. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2017;11:511–517.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Offeddu, V, Yung, CF, Low, MSF, Tam, CC. Effectiveness of masks and respirators against respiratory infections in healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Infect Dis 2017;65:1934–1942.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bin-Reza, F, Lopez Chavarrias, V, Nicoll, A, Chamberland, ME. The use of masks and respirators to prevent transmission of influenza: a systematic review of the scientific evidence. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2012;6:257–267.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bischoff, WE, Reid, T, Russell, GB, Peters, TR. Transocular entry of seasonal influenza-attenuated virus aerosols and the efficacy of n95 respirators, surgical masks, and eye protection in humans. J Infect Dis 2011;204:193–199.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Johnson, DF, Druce, JD, Birch, C, Grayson, ML. A quantitative assessment of the efficacy of surgical and N95 masks to filter influenza virus in patients with acute influenza infection. Clin Infect Dis 2009;49:275–277.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wong, CK, Yip, BH, Mercer, S, et al. Effect of facemasks on empathy and relational continuity: a randomised controlled trial in primary care. BMC Fam Pract 2013;14:200.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Siu, JY. Qualitative study on the shifting sociocultural meanings of the facemask in Hong Kong since the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak: implications for infection control in the post-SARS era. Int J Equity Health 2016;15:73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar