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Staff working in Anaesthesia/ ICU are at (unexpectedly) lower risk of COVID-19 infection than others on frontline
The big question is whether this has more implications for anaesthesia/ICM or for the rest of healthcare
@DrSimonLennane @Anaes_Journal
1/9 …https://associationofanaesthetists-publications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/anae.15358
The big question is whether this has more implications for anaesthesia/ICM or for the rest of healthcare
@DrSimonLennane @Anaes_Journal
1/9 …https://associationofanaesthetists-publications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/anae.15358
Frontline hospital staff are
2-4x more likely then others to get COVID infection
Notably
-everyone near pts not just clinical staff
-nurses > doctors
-juniors > seniors
-non-white > white
-deprived > non-deprived
2/9
2-4x more likely then others to get COVID infection
Notably
-everyone near pts not just clinical staff
-nurses > doctors
-juniors > seniors
-non-white > white
-deprived > non-deprived
2/9
Notably the increased risk to healthcare workers does not extend to non-frontline staff
But it does to household contacts of frontline staff (broadly 2x normal risk)
Relative increased for healthcare staff has not decreased through pandemic - perhaps worsening
3/9
But it does to household contacts of frontline staff (broadly 2x normal risk)
Relative increased for healthcare staff has not decreased through pandemic - perhaps worsening
3/9
Increased infection leads to increased hospitalisation among healthcare staff & their household contacts
Outcomes once admitted are better than general population (but only because healthcare staff are likely fitter than general population)
Again effect worsening over time
4/9
Outcomes once admitted are better than general population (but only because healthcare staff are likely fitter than general population)
Again effect worsening over time
4/9
It is difficult to be clear whether the increased infection risk translates to a higher mortality rate - but on balance ONS data suggest it probably does.
Even if relative fitness/youth minimises deaths ....the key has to be stopping infection at source
5/9
Even if relative fitness/youth minimises deaths ....the key has to be stopping infection at source
5/9
However in anaesthesia & critical care these increases in infection & harm are absent.
Infection
< domestics
< medics
Admissions
< front door medics
< household contacts of front door hospital staff
Deaths appear to be lower than expected too
6/9
Infection
< domestics
< medics
Admissions
< front door medics
< household contacts of front door hospital staff
Deaths appear to be lower than expected too
6/9
So why are those exposed to the sickest patients & undertaking high risk procedures at the lowest risk among medics
We offer 6 plausible explanations
7:9
We offer 6 plausible explanations
7:9
The key question is whether this means those in anaesthesia/critical care can relax or whether we need to address unmet protection for other frontline staff.
The data probably speak for themselves
8/9
The data probably speak for themselves
8/9
The piece starts reflecting on the sad death of anaesthetist Dr Subramanian in Derby. Individuals & families lie behind each datapoint.
Healthcare staff have made many sacrifices this year.
Be protected - get vaccinated.
#DocsforVax
9/9 https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/anaesthetist-krishnan-subramanian-derby-dies-covid-b69395.html%3famp
Healthcare staff have made many sacrifices this year.
Be protected - get vaccinated.
#DocsforVax
9/9 https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/anaesthetist-krishnan-subramanian-derby-dies-covid-b69395.html%3famp
