Objective: This study aimed to investigate an outbreak of COVID-19 among HCWs in the nephrology service of a university hospital in Rio de Janeiro in March 2020. Methods: The study population consisted of a team of 59 HCWs, and surveys were conducted through digital interviews. Signs and symptoms, comorbidities, hospitalization, and the network of contacts among the professionals during the period from March 1 to 23, 2020 were evaluated. The analysis consisted of (i) describing the epidemic curve, (ii) transmission chains, (iii) estimating the effective reproduction number (Rt), and (iv) identification of factors related to infectious cases. Results: Of the 59 professionals in the nephrology service, 43 (73%) participated in the study. The first case occurred on March 1 and the last on March 23, 2020. The outbreak peaked on March 12 and 13. 31 participants were probable or confirmed cases of COVID-19. These were mostly women (71%), with an average age of 37 years, and were predominantly doctors (45%). Only one participant was hospitalized. The risk factors for contracting covid 19 were being a medical doctor, working at another hospital, and being female. Conclusion: We concluded that there was an outbreak of COVID-19 among health professionals in the nephrology service at HUPE from March 1 to 23, 2020. The transmission chain network had large clusters showing intense transmission.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

This study was funded by FAPERJ Fundacao Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro under registration number E26/210.467/2022.

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The research project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (CEP) of the Social Medicine Institute (IMS) of the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) (CAAE: 30685220.8.0000.5260).

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