Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to describe the incidence and features of asymptomatic COVID-19 infections among HCWs at a tertiary hospital in Oman. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2020 and February 2021 among HCWs with no history of COVID-19 infection using an online questionnaire to collect sociodemographic and clinical data. COVID-19 infection was diagnosed using nasopharyngeal/throat swabs, which were tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Analyses were performed using Chi-squared test, Fisher’s exact test, or univariate ordinary least squares regression, as appropriate. Results: A total of 583 HCWs participated in the study. Most were female (56.6%) and the mean age was 35 ± 8 years . Only 9.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.3–12.3%) of the HCWs were at high exposure risk as they were directly involved in the care of COVID-19-infected patients. Overall, 4.1% (95% CI: 2.7–6.1%) of the HCWs screened positive for SARS-CoV-2; of these, five (20.8%) developed symptoms within two weeks. The frequency of SARS-CoV-2 positivity among HCWs working in high, intermediate, low, and miscellaneous risk areas was 1.8% (95% CI: <0.1–9.6%), 2.6% (95% CI: <0.1–6.5%), 5.3% (95% CI: 0.3–9.3%), and 4.8% (95% CI: <0.1–69.3%), respectively. Working in high-risk areas was associated with increased compliance with various infection control strategies (P <0.001). Conclusion: There was a greater frequency of SARS-CoV-2 positivity among HCWs working in lower-risk areas, whereas HCWs who worked in high-risk areas were significantly more likely to report increased compliance with infection control strategies.
Publication details
- DOI
- 10.18295/squmj.1.2023.008
- Journal
- Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 23(3), 336-343
- Publisher
- Sultan Qaboos University
- Open access
- Gold open access
- License
- CC BY-ND 4.0
Cite this article
APA 7
Al Shibli, A., Al Jufaili, M., Al Alawi, A., Balkhair, A., Al-Zakwani, I., Al Azri, F., Al Maamari, K., Alawi, F. B., Al Qayoudhi, A., & Al Ghafri, H. (2025). Identification of Asymptomatic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections among Healthcare Workers at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 23(3), 336-343. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.1.2023.008
MLA 9
Al Shibli, Amal, et al. "Identification of Asymptomatic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections among Healthcare Workers at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman." Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 23, no. 3, 2025, pp. 336-343. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.1.2023.008.
Chicago (author–date)
Al Shibli, Amal, Mahmood Al Jufaili, Awatif Al Alawi, Abdullah Balkhair, Ibrahim Al-Zakwani, Faisal Al Azri, Khuloud Al Maamari, Fatma Ba Alawi, Azza Al Qayoudhi, and Hajar Al Ghafri. 2025. "Identification of Asymptomatic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections among Healthcare Workers at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman." Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal 23 (3): 336-343. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.1.2023.008.
Harvard
Al Shibli, A., Al Jufaili, M., Al Alawi, A., Balkhair, A., Al-Zakwani, I., Al Azri, F., Al Maamari, K., Alawi, F. B., Al Qayoudhi, A. and Al Ghafri, H. (2025) 'Identification of Asymptomatic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections among Healthcare Workers at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman', Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 23(3), pp. 336-343. doi:10.18295/squmj.1.2023.008.
Vancouver
Al Shibli A, Al Jufaili M, Al Alawi A, Balkhair A, Al-Zakwani I, Al Azri F, et al. Identification of Asymptomatic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections among Healthcare Workers at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal. 2025;23(3):336-343. doi:10.18295/squmj.1.2023.008
IEEE
A. Al Shibli, M. Al Jufaili, A. Al Alawi, A. Balkhair, I. Al-Zakwani, F. Al Azri, K. Al Maamari, F. B. Alawi, A. Al Qayoudhi, and H. Al Ghafri, "Identification of Asymptomatic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections among Healthcare Workers at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman," Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 336-343, 2025, doi: 10.18295/squmj.1.2023.008.