LAUSR

Background:Detection of Covid-19 among Health Care Workers (HCWs) is crucial for hospital infection prevalence and containment of the disease. According to current diagnosis criteria, laboratory diagnosis by RTPCR has become standard and formative assessment of Covid-19 infection. Present study aims to diagnose Covid-19 infection by RTPCR and corre- lating the results with clinical, immunological and radiological parameters in HCWs at Sir Ronald Ross Institute of Tropi- cal And Communicable Diseases (SRRIT&CD), HyderabadA. Methods:All HCWs of SRRIT&CD tested by RTPCR for Covid-19 were included in the study. HCWs positive by RTPCR were advised quarantine and investigated for CBP, Chest X-Ray, HRCT Chest (radiological investigations) CRP and IL-6 (Immunological investigations). Results:Since SRRIT&CD is an isolation centre all HCW were exposed to Covid-19 cases and were tested regularly for Covid-19 by RTPCR. 53(12.6%) of HCWs were positive for Covid-19, out of which 22( 41.5%) were doctors, 6(11.3%) were nursing staff, 13(24.5%) were technical staff,8 (15%) were sanitation and house-keeping staff and 4 (7.5%) were office staff. 88.7% of 53 Covid positive cases were symptomatic presenting with fever as the common symptom an 11.3% were asymptomatic. Significant chest X-ray, HRCT Chest and immunological findings were reported in 11.3%, 9.4% and 9.4% respectively. 2 (3.7%) HCW with co-morbidities succumbed to the disease. Re-infection was seen in 1 HCW (1.9%). Conclusions:In the present study RTPCR is the main stay in the diagnosis of Covid -19 which is a potential occupational risk among health care individuals. Hence early diagnosis by RTPCR and effective isolation can minimize the spread of the disease in the institute