Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers in Rajasthan: A Case-Control Study aligned with WHO UNITY protocol

Authors

  • Pankaj Bhardwaj Community Medicine, and Family Medicine, Coordinator School of Public Health, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
  • Leyanna Susan George Department of Community Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Cochin, India
  • Manoj Kumar Gupta Community Medicine, and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
  • Akhil Dhanesh Goel Community Medicine, and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
  • Nitin Kumar Joshi School of Public Health, AIIMS, Jodhpur, India
  • Neha Mantri School of Public Health, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
  • Nitesh Kumar Department of Community Medicine & Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
  • Jinesh Saini School of Public Health, AIIMS, Jodhpur, India
  • Vidhi Jain Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
  • Suman Saurabh Community Medicine, and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
  • Chitra Tomy Department of Community Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Cochin, India
  • Gopal Krishna Bohra Department of General Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
  • Nishant Kumar Chauhan Department of Pulmonary Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
  • Manoj Verma Department of Community Medicine, Dr. S.N. Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
  • Arun Kumar Department of Community Medicine, Dr. S.N. Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
  • Suman Bhansali Department of Community Medicine, Dr. S.N. Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
  • Niti Gahlot Department of Community Medicine, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, Jodhpur, India
  • Archana Paliwal Department of Community Medicine, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, Jodhpur, India
  • Rajaat Vohra Department of Community Medicine, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, Jodhpur, India
  • Vijaya Lakhsmi Nag Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
  • M. K. Garg Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
  • Sanjeev Misra Department of Surgical Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3396/ijic.v21.23283

Keywords:

COVID-19, IPC, Hand Hygiene, Patient care, Risk factors, Health personnel, Hospital, India

Abstract

Background: Understanding the risk factors for healthcare workers (HCWs) involved in COVID-19 care is essential for developing effective infection prevention strategies.

Methodology: A case-control study, aligned with the World Health Organization UNITY protocol and using the WHO Go.Data template, was conducted in Rajasthan across three public hospitals to identify factors associated with COVID-19 infection among HCWs. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.23. Descriptive analysis included COVID-19 positivity rates, exposure frequency and duration, and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice scores. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests (P < 0.05) were used to assess associations.

Results: A total of 196 participants (50 cases and 146 controls) were enrolled. Among the cases, 54% were doctors and 42% were specifically assigned to COVID-19 care, with an average exposure duration of 8.8 ± 4.9 days over the prior 2 weeks. Notably, 36% experienced long-term face-to-face exposure. Of all variables, only hand hygiene before and after patient material contact showed a significant association with infection (P = 0.036).

Conclusion: These findings underscore the need for strengthened IPC adherence, particularly hand hygiene, among HCWs in high-exposure settings.

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Published

2025-11-05

How to Cite

Bhardwaj, P., George, L. S., Gupta, M. K., Goel, A. D., Joshi, N. K., Mantri, N., … Misra, S. (2025). Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers in Rajasthan: A Case-Control Study aligned with WHO UNITY protocol. International Journal of Infection Control, 21. https://doi.org/10.3396/ijic.v21.23283

Issue

Vol. 21 (2025)

Section

Original Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Pankaj Bhardwaj, Leyanna Susan George, Manoj Kumar Gupta, Akhil Dhanesh Goel, Nitin Kumar Joshi, Neha Mantri, Nitesh Kumar, Jinesh Saini, Vidhi Jain, Suman Saurabh, Chitra Tomy, Gopal Krishna Bohra, Nishant Kumar Chauhan, Manoj Verma, Arun Kumar, Suman Bhansali, Niti Gahlot, Archana Paliwal, Rajaat Vohra, Vijaya Lakhsmi Nag, M. K. Garg, Sanjeev Misra

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