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International registry of otolaryngologist–head and neck surgeons with COVID-19

Sowerby, Leigh J. ; Stephenson, Kate ; Dickie, Alexander ; Lella, Federico A.Di ; Jefferson, Niall ; North, Hannah ; De Siati, R. Daniele ; Maunsell, Rebecca ; Herzog, Michael and Nandhan, Raghu , et al. (2020) In International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology 10(11). p.1201-1208
Abstract

Background: It has become clear that healthcare workers are at high risk, and otolaryngology has been theorized to be among the highest risk specialties for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The purpose of this study was to detail the international impact of COVID-19 among otolaryngologists, and to identify instructional cases. Methods: Country representatives of the Young Otolaryngologists–International Federation of Otolaryngologic Societies (YO-IFOS) surveyed otolaryngologists through various channels. Nationwide surveys were distributed in 19 countries. The gray literature and social media channels were searched to identify reported deaths of otolaryngologists from COVID-19. Results: A total of 361 otolaryngologists were... (More)

Background: It has become clear that healthcare workers are at high risk, and otolaryngology has been theorized to be among the highest risk specialties for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The purpose of this study was to detail the international impact of COVID-19 among otolaryngologists, and to identify instructional cases. Methods: Country representatives of the Young Otolaryngologists–International Federation of Otolaryngologic Societies (YO-IFOS) surveyed otolaryngologists through various channels. Nationwide surveys were distributed in 19 countries. The gray literature and social media channels were searched to identify reported deaths of otolaryngologists from COVID-19. Results: A total of 361 otolaryngologists were identified to have had COVID-19, and data for 325 surgeons was available for analysis. The age range was 25 to 84 years, with one-half under the age of 44 years. There were 24 deaths in the study period, with 83% over age 55 years. Source of infection was likely clinical activity in 175 (54%) cases. Prolonged exposure to a colleague was the source for 37 (11%) surgeons. Six instructional cases were identified where infections occurred during the performance of aerosol-generating operations (tracheostomy, mastoidectomy, epistaxis control, dacryocystorhinostomy, and translabyrinthine resection). In 3 of these cases, multiple operating room attendees were infected, and in 2, the surgeon succumbed to complications of COVID-19. Conclusion: The etiology of reported cases within the otolaryngology community appear to stem equally from clinical activity and community spread. Multiple procedures performed by otolaryngologists are aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) and great care should be taken to protect the surgical team before, during, and after these operations.

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@article{c60ae9bc-1186-453e-b026-e60b0ce07635,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: It has become clear that healthcare workers are at high risk, and otolaryngology has been theorized to be among the highest risk specialties for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The purpose of this study was to detail the international impact of COVID-19 among otolaryngologists, and to identify instructional cases. Methods: Country representatives of the Young Otolaryngologists–International Federation of Otolaryngologic Societies (YO-IFOS) surveyed otolaryngologists through various channels. Nationwide surveys were distributed in 19 countries. The gray literature and social media channels were searched to identify reported deaths of otolaryngologists from COVID-19. Results: A total of 361 otolaryngologists were identified to have had COVID-19, and data for 325 surgeons was available for analysis. The age range was 25 to 84 years, with one-half under the age of 44 years. There were 24 deaths in the study period, with 83% over age 55 years. Source of infection was likely clinical activity in 175 (54%) cases. Prolonged exposure to a colleague was the source for 37 (11%) surgeons. Six instructional cases were identified where infections occurred during the performance of aerosol-generating operations (tracheostomy, mastoidectomy, epistaxis control, dacryocystorhinostomy, and translabyrinthine resection). In 3 of these cases, multiple operating room attendees were infected, and in 2, the surgeon succumbed to complications of COVID-19. Conclusion: The etiology of reported cases within the otolaryngology community appear to stem equally from clinical activity and community spread. Multiple procedures performed by otolaryngologists are aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) and great care should be taken to protect the surgical team before, during, and after these operations.</p>}},
  author       = {{Sowerby, Leigh J. and Stephenson, Kate and Dickie, Alexander and Lella, Federico A.Di and Jefferson, Niall and North, Hannah and De Siati, R. Daniele and Maunsell, Rebecca and Herzog, Michael and Nandhan, Raghu and Trozzi, Marilena and Dehgani-Mobaraki, Puya and Melkane, Antoine and Callejas, Claudio and Miljeteig, Harald and Smit, Diane and Reynoso, Daniel Dibildox and Moura, Joao Eloi and Hermansson, Ann and Peer, Shazia and Burnell, Lisa and Fakhry, Nicolas and Chiesa-Estomba, Carlos and Önerci Çelebi, Özlem and Karpischenko, Sergei and Sobol, Steven and Sargi, Zoukaa and Patel, Zara M.}},
  issn         = {{2042-6976}},
  keywords     = {{aerosol generating procedures (AGPs); coronavirus; COVID-19; morbidity; mortality; otolaryngology; personal protective equipment (PPE); physicians}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{11}},
  pages        = {{1201--1208}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology}},
  title        = {{International registry of otolaryngologist–head and neck surgeons with COVID-19}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/alr.22677}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/alr.22677}},
  volume       = {{10}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}