TY - JOUR
T1 - International registry of otolaryngologist–head and neck surgeons with COVID-19
AU - Sowerby, Leigh J.
AU - Stephenson, Kate
AU - Dickie, Alexander
AU - Lella, Federico A.Di
AU - Jefferson, Niall
AU - North, Hannah
AU - De Siati, R. Daniele
AU - Maunsell, Rebecca
AU - Herzog, Michael
AU - Nandhan, Raghu
AU - Trozzi, Marilena
AU - Dehgani-Mobaraki, Puya
AU - Melkane, Antoine
AU - Callejas, Claudio
AU - Miljeteig, Harald
AU - Smit, Diane
AU - Reynoso, Daniel Dibildox
AU - Moura, Joao Eloi
AU - Hermansson, Ann
AU - Peer, Shazia
AU - Burnell, Lisa
AU - Fakhry, Nicolas
AU - Chiesa-Estomba, Carlos
AU - Önerci Çelebi, Özlem
AU - Karpischenko, Sergei
AU - Sobol, Steven
AU - Sargi, Zoukaa
AU - Patel, Zara M.
N1 - Funding Information:
We acknowledge the collaboration of their local and regional federations of otorhinolaryngology associations for their contributions to promotion and data collection, including but not limited to: Australian Society of Otolaryngology?Head and Neck Surgery, Associa??o Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cervico Facial (ABORLCCF), ENT UK, Federaci?n Argentina de Sociedades de Otorrinolaringolog?a (FASO), Canadian Society of Otolaryngology?Head and Neck Surgery, American Rhinologic Society, German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology?Head and Neck Surgery, American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, American Head and Neck Society, South African Society of Otorhinolaryngology?Head and Neck Surgery, Italian Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology?Head and Neck Surgery, Associazione Naso Sano, Norwegian Society of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Indian Academy of Otorhinolaryngology?Head and Neck Surgery, Soci?t? Fran?aise d'ORL et de Chirurgie Cervico-faciale (SFORL), Federacion Mexicana de Otorrinolaringologia (FESORMEX), Sociedad Mexicana de Otorrinolaringologia (SMORLCCC), Royal Belgian Society of Otorhinolaryngology?Head and Neck Surgery, Sociedade Portuguesa de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia da Cabe?a e Pesco?o (SPORL), the Turkish Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Society, and Sociedad Chilena de Otorrinolaringolog?a?Medicina y Cirug?a de Cabeza y Cuello. Also a special thanks should be given to the International Federation of Otolaryngologic Surgeons for supporting the YO-IFOS group.
PY - 2020/11/1
Y1 - 2020/11/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - COVID-19
KW - aerosol generating procedures (AGPs)
KW - coronavirus
KW - morbidity
KW - mortality
KW - otolaryngology
KW - personal protective equipment (PPE)
KW - physicians
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U2 - 10.1002/alr.22677
DO - 10.1002/alr.22677
M3 - Article
C2 - 32735062
AN - SCOPUS:85089736523
VL - 10
SP - 1201
EP - 1208
JO - International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology
JF - International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology
SN - 2042-6976
IS - 11
ER -