Highlights
- •Most rheumatologists manage immunocompromised healthcare workers (HCW).
- •The expectation remains with specialists to advise HCW on managing workplace infection risks.
- •There remains a level of discomfort amongst rheumatologists in providing these recommendations.
- •Colleagues were the most common source of guidance for managing immunocompromised HCW.
- •Frameworks needed to guide clinicians in making recommendations for immunocompromised HCW.
Abstract
Background
Healthcare workers (HCW) with an inflammatory disease may be at increased risk of
infections and their complications, however there is no evidence to guide specific
measures to reduce the risk of immunocompromised HCW acquiring infection in the workplace.
This cross-sectional study aimed to define the attitudes of rheumatologists and rheumatology
trainees towards counselling immunocompromised healthcare workers about additional
workplace precautions to minimise workplace risk of infection.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was administered via Zoom poll during a webinar held in August
2020. Participants were Victorian and Tasmanian members of the Australian Rheumatology
Association, which includes consultant rheumatologists and rheumatology trainees.
Descriptive statistics were used to analyse survey responses.
Results
Of the 52 participants, 41 provided care to at least one immunocompromised healthcare
worker. 21 out of 52 participants estimated that the majority of these patients sought
their advice about infection risk in the workplace. The most common source of information
for counselling patients on workplace infection risks were colleagues (38/50). Participants
were most confident in providing information on influenza and hepatitis but less confident
in providing information in tuberculosis, shingles and COVID-19. Most participants
believed employers of immunocompromised HCW should play a role in providing advice
on managing infection risks in the workplace.
Conclusion
Our study reveals a level of uncertainty and discomfort amongst rheumatologists in
providing recommendations to immunocompromised healthcare workers about managing their
workplace risk of infection. We recommend the development of a framework to guide
the clinician in making individualised recommendations for immunocompromised HCW.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 14, 2022
Accepted:
May 4,
2022
Received in revised form:
May 3,
2022
Received:
December 2,
2021
Identification
Copyright
Crown Copyright © 2022 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control. All rights reserved.
