Conclusion
The study concluded that as nose picking among healthcare workers is associated with an increased risk of contracting infection, health care facilities should create more awareness, by educational sessions or implementing recommendations against nose picking in infection prevention guidelines.
The report concludes: “This is the first study that shows that nose picking by HCW is associated with an increased risk of contracting COVID-19. It is surprising to observe the extensiveness in which the scientific community (including our own study team) has researched all sorts of SARS-CoV-2 transmission routes, risk factors and protective measures; yet assessing the role of simple behavioural and physical properties has so far been overlooked. Possibly this sensitive subject is still taboo in the health care profession. It is commendable we assume healthcare workers to not portray bad habits, yet we too are only human after all, as illustrated by the pivotal proportion of nose pickers in our cohort (84.5%)”
“Considering guideline recommendations include e.g. illustrations of appropriate masks for those with facial hair despite the lack of any real-life evidence, nose picking deserves more consideration as a potential health hazard, and explicit recommendations against nose picking should be included in the same SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention guidelines. Future research could examine the effectiveness of interventions addressing behaviour (like awareness campaigns, or the use of nail polish with an unpleasant smell), treating the underlying cause of nose picking (e.g. by using saline spray to reduce mucus, or using nasal disinfectant spray in SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals.”
The study is published in the peer reviewed online journal PLOS ONE – Association between nose picking and SARS-CoV-2 incidence, a cohort study in hospital health care workers. PLoS ONE 18(8): e0288352.
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