Introduction Since the start of the COVID-19 epidemic, hospital staff have been massively affected in most countries, including Tunisia.

Objective This study aimed to examine the influence of the gender dimension on COVID-19 contamination expression among Tunisian hospital staff.

Methods Based on the COVID-19 register kept by the occupational medicine service and dedicated to hospital staff, data over 8 months were analyzed (September 2020-April 2021). COVID-19 screening was performed among all symptomatic hospital employees, or asymptomatic ones identified as close contact of a patient, colleague or relative confirmed positive for COVID-19. A nasypharyngeal swab was used for viral testing (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Test). Chest tomography was reserved for suspected cases with negative viral tests.

Results In total, 419 COVID-19 infections were confirmed by rt-PCR in 63.96%, by rapid antigen testing in 33.65% and tomography in 2.39% of cases. Women represented 72.21% of contaminated staff, with average age of 21.75 ± 9.78 years but with no difference between gender groups. The department most affected was gynecology (43 cases), and nurses were the most affected category, especially among female staff (p= 0.016). In addition, fever (p= 0.012), neurological symptoms (p = 0.049), such as aguesia (p = 0.003), were more common in female workers. In contrast, digestive symptoms were more frequent in men (p = 0.0049), especially diarrhea (p = 0.00). In addition, chest tomography COVID-19 confirmation was significantly more common in men (p = 0.012). Hospitalization was indicated in 16 cases, in intensive care in 2 cases with one case of death. No significant difference was noted between genders based on the severity of the COVID-19 infection.

Conclusion Gender clinical difference of COVID-19 clinical expression was suggested by our results among health workers without impact on severity. These observations should be confirmed in larger studies.