[Factors associated with the duration of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare professionals at a second-level public hospital in the Community of Madrid (Spain) during the sixth wave.].

Objective: The incidence of COVID-19 infections among health professionals during the sixth wave has suffered an exponential increase, mainly due to the rapid community transmission caused by the Omicron variant. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the time to negativization in COVID-positive health professionals during the sixth wave, according to the PDIA result; and secondarily, to evaluate the possible influence of other factors (previous infection, vaccination, sex, age, job position) on the time to get negative status.

Methods: A descriptive, longitudinal, observational and retrospective study was carried out at Infanta Sofía University Hospital (Madrid, Spain). Made from the registry of the Occupational Risk Prevention Service of suspected or confirmed cases of SARS-COV-2 infection in health professionals, during the period between November 1, 2021 and February 28, 2022. Bivariate comparisons were made using Mann Whitney, Kruskal Wallis or Chi-square test (or exact test) according to variables. Subsequently, logistic regression (explanatory model) was performed.

Results: The cumulative incidence of SARS-COV-2 infection in health professionals was 23.07%. The mean time to become negative was 9.94 days. Only the history of previous SARS-COV-2 infection had a statistically significant influence on the time to negativization of PDIA. The variables vaccination, sex and age had no effect on the time to negativization of PDIA.

Conclusions: Professionals with a history of COVID-19 infection present lower times of negativization than those who had not have the disease. The results of our study confirm the immune escape of the vaccine against COVID-19, since more than 95% of those infected had received a complete vaccination schedule.