How we protected ourselves as workers in operating rooms during the Covid-19 pandemic: operating room experience for 2 years

Abstract

Purpose: Covid-19 virus is a viral disease that is transmitted quickly between people through close contact and droplets. It spread from China to the rest of the world easily and within a few months. The limited information about Covid-19 and the fact that it has changed the life routine has inevitably affected hospitals and many operating room settings, as in all parts of the countries. The aim of this article is to discuss the use of personal protection methods in our hospital, to examine the virus exposure of our personnel working in the operating room with the current protection methods in the operating room during the pandemic period lasting more than two years, and to examine and evaluate the effects of vaccination on the severity of the disease. Materials and methods: This study was based on prospective data obtained from Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine operating room staff between March 2020 and 2022 after receiving the approval from the Ethics Committee. The use of personal protection equipment against Covid-19 virus, exposure to the virus, vaccination status, and hospitalization status of healthcare workers in operating rooms, which is an isolated part of the hospital, were evaluated from the first period of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, the groups were divided into 2 different time periods: before and after vaccination. The use of personal protective equipment, status of having Covid-19 infection, hospitalizations due to the virus, symptoms in case of illness, vaccination status and the number of vaccine doses were examined. During this time, people who were dismissed from the hospital were excluded from the study. Results: Data were collected at 2 different time points as before and after the vaccination of healthcare workers. Demographic data, personal protective equipment use, Covid-19 positivity and negativity and symptoms of 144 participants were analyzed at two different time points. It has been found in many different analyses that women are better protected than men, but also that the protection of anesthesiologists is higher than other groups. Hospitalizations were very rare in operating room staff and they did not have severe symptoms. Finally, there was a significant decrease in symptoms and their severity after vaccination. Conclusion: In conclusion this study revealed the fact that operating rooms are the most important places where precautions should be taken during pandemics. This study aims to shed light on the protection of operating room staff during possible future outbreaks.