Paris (AFP)

Since the start of the epidemic, the hospitals of the Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) have identified 11,900 cases of Covid-19 infection among their staff, or around 12%, according to figures released Friday by the AP-HP.

"When we compare the different professional categories, we find contamination rates that are relatively comparable, 11% among nursing assistants, 12% among doctors and 14% among nurses," said during a press briefing the infectious disease specialist Sandra Fournier.

According to surveys carried out by the institution, intensive care personnel are not more infected than those in other sectors and the highest rates are found in the geriatric, follow-up and rehabilitation services.

Out of 5,000 positive Covid cases analyzed by the infection risk prevention teams, 62% of people were able to identify a possible source of their infection: for less than 5%, it was a patient, for 29% rather of '' a colleague within the hospital and for 29% a relative or a gathering outside the hospital.

On the patient side, the AP-HP has identified, since July, "1,262 cases of contamination of patients of a potentially nosocomial nature", that is to say occurring during their hospitalization, out of the 300,000 patients treated over the period. in the 39 hospitals of the AP-HP.

"A case is considered to be nosocomial if the patient, unharmed on admission to hospital, has clinical or biological signs of infection from the fifteenth day of hospitalization", specifies the AP-HP.

These contaminations can come from contact with other patients, with nursing staff or with visitors.

Among these infected patients, 566 were hospitalized in the after-care and rehabilitation service, 502 in the short-stay service and 194 in the long-term care unit (LTC).

“These are mainly elderly patients for whom it is often difficult to wear a mask continuously or to remain isolated in their room,” explained Sandra Fournier.

Since July, the AP-HP has identified 458 epidemic outbreaks, mostly involving staff.

They lasted an average of 12 days and involved an average number of nine cases.

"As of February 5, 2021, 71 epidemic outbreaks affecting patients and / or staff are in progress," notes the institution, adding that 22 of them involve new variants.

"To date, the outbreaks involving a new variant do not appear to concern a greater number of cases or to have a longer duration than the others, but this point will be closely monitored in the coming weeks", adds the AP- HP.

© 2021 AFP