Martin Villares, CristinaBernal Sprekelsen, ManuelPérez Molina-Ramírez, CarmenBartolome Benito, Margarita2023-02-172023-02-172021-01-190937-4477https://hdl.handle.net/2445/193754Introduction The aim of our study was to obtain data about the contagion rate among Otolaryngologists in Spanish ENT Departments and about the clinical outcomes in positive otolaryngologists. As a secondary objective, we aim to assess the rate of contagion in the first and the second Covid-19 wave in Spain among Otorhinolaryngologists and the regional distribution by ENT-Departments. Methods Study design and population: This is a prospective observational study in a cohort of 975 Otolaryngologists from 87 ENT Departments conducted from March 25 to November 17 in our collaborative group, COVID ORL ESP. COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was the diagnostic standard. Hospitalization and/or intensive care admission and mortality was recorded as non-identified data. Results Data collected from 975 otolaryngologist from 87 Departments resulted in 157 (16.5%) otolaryngologists testing positive for SARS-CoV-19 by RT-PCR. Important geographic differences in contagion are reported. A total of 136 (86.6%) otolaryngologists were tested positive during the first wave and 21 (13.3%) during the second wave. At the last cut-off point of the study only 30/87 ENT Departments (34.5%) remained COVID19-free and 5 Departments reported more than 50% staff members testing positive. The majority of positive tested otolaryngologists (126/157; 80.2%) had only mild or no symptoms, 17 developed moderate symptoms (10.8%) and 3 had pneumonia not requiring hospitalization (2%). Five colleagues were admitted at hospital, 4 required ICU (2.5%) and 2 colleges died from COVID-19. Conclusions During the first wave of the SARS-CoV-19 pandemic otolaryngologists in Spain have been overall the group suffering the highest rate of contagion, particularly during the first month. Subsequently, the Spanish Ministry of Health should include otorhinolaryngologists as a high-risk group in airborne pandemics.7 p.application/pdfengcc-by (c) Martin Villares, Cristina et al., 2021http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/SARS-CoV-2COVID-19Malalties infecciosesOtorrinolaringologiaMorbiditatMortalitatSARS-CoV-2COVID-19Communicable diseasesOtolaryngologyMorbidityMortalityinfo:eu-repo/semantics/article7300462023-02-17info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess33464400