Assessing efficacy of instructor based orientation to donning doffing protocols and modifications to doffing area infrastructure in reducing SARS-CoV-2 infection among Doctors assigned to COVID-19 patient care

• Main Authors: Sunil V. Furtado (Author), Parichay J. Perikal (Author), Monica Narayanaswamy (Author), T.V. Ravikumar (Author), Lissy John (Author), K. Harish (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Elsevier, 2023-06-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2590-0889; 10.1016/j.infpip.2023.100279
• Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; Healthcare workers; Personal protective equipment; Resident doctors; RT-PCR; Training; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Infection Prevention in Practice, Vol 5, Iss 2, Pp 100279- (2023)

summary: Background: We assess the efficacy of orientation programmes for doctors of proper donning, doffing techniques for personal protective equipment (PPE) and safe practices inside the COVID-19 hospital in reducing the COVID-19 infection rate among doctors. Methods: A total of 767 resident doctors and 197 faculty visits on weekly rotation were recorded over a six month period. Doctors were guided through orientation sessions before their entry into the COVID-19 hospital from 1 August 2020. The infection rate among doctors was used to study the efficacy of the programme. McNemars Chi-square test was used to compare the infection rate in the two groups before and after orientation sessions were commenced. Discussion: A statistically significant reduction in SARS-CoV-2 infection was seen among resident doctors after orientation programmes and infrastructure modification (3% vs 7.4%, P=0.03). Twenty-eight of 32 (87.5%) doctors who tested positive developed asymptomatic to mild infection. The infection rate was 3.65% and 2.1% among residents and faculty respectively. There was no mortality recorded. Conclusion: Orientation programme for healthcare workers for PPE donning and doffing protocols with practical demonstration and trial of PPE usage can significantly reduce COVID-19 infection. Such sessions should be mandatory for all workers on deputation in designated area for Infectious Diseases and in pandemic situations.