What is it about?
During the first COVID-19 wave in Italy, community pharmacies stayed open and pharmacists were in daily close contact with the public, yet little was known about their risk. Between April and May 2020 we ran an online survey among Italian community pharmacists, answered by 1,632 of them, a sample representative of the profession in age, gender and team size. Protective measures were adopted in almost all pharmacies. Nearly 4 in 10 pharmacists reported at least one COVID-19-compatible symptom between late February and May, but only 6% were tested, and 15 of those tested were positive. Because testing was limited and increased only as symptoms declined, the true infection rate among pharmacists was probably underestimated, likely lying between that of other healthcare workers and the general population.
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Why is it important?
Community pharmacists were among the first professionals exposed to SARS-CoV-2 but were often overlooked in testing and protection policies. This study documents their exposure, suggests that widespread use of protective measures helped limit infections, and supports including pharmacists in surveillance and prevention strategies for future epidemics.
Perspectives
The pandemic showed how many professionals, beyond doctors and nurses, kept the health system running. I was glad to contribute to this study that gives visibility to community pharmacists, who quietly served the public at a time of great fear and uncertainty.
Professor Stefano Di Bella
Universita degli Studi di Trieste
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Community pharmacists' exposure to COVID-19, Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, May 2020, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.05.020.
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