COVID-19 in otolaryngologists: a cross-sectional multicenter study

Abstract

Objective To investigate the prevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in otorhinolaryngologists in southern Brazil, its relationship to demographic data, professional practice and reported symptoms of COVID-19, and compare it with official data on other health-care workers of the state and the general population in the same period. Methods In this cross-sectional multicenter study, otolaryngologists actively practicing officially registered in Rio Grande do Sul were screened for IgM and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. A questionnaire was also applied. Results We screened 358 (80.1%) of 447 actively practicing otolaryngologists (195 [54.5%] male; mean [SD] age, 47.77 [13.57] years; range, 26–84 years). Twenty-three were positive for IgM and/or IgG (6.4%). This result was significantly associated with reports of infected household contacts (19/315 negatives and 8/23 positives; pp < 0.001). From 23 seropositive participants, 14 were asymptomatic (60.9%; pp < 0.001). There were no significant associations between seroconversion and age, sex, number of patient appointments and surgical procedures, workplace (hospital or private practice), patients with or without respiratory symptoms, or level of personal protective equipment used. The rate of COVID-19 in all health-care workers in the state was 7.69% at the end of the same period. Data from state government seroprevalence was 5.26 (risk ratio [RR]; 95% CI 3.27–8.45) and 4.66 (RR; 95% CI 2.93–7.43) times higher in otolaryngologists than in the general population in August and September, respectively. Conclusion sOtolaryngologists had a higher seroconversion rate than the general population. Using personal protective equipment, the level of occupational exposure did not result in higher rates of infection than other health-care workers, but the presence of infected household contacts was associated with higher rates of seroconversion.

Prevalencia de infección por COVID-19 por serología positiva (IgG/IgM) en personal médico de la Cátedra y Servicio de Otorrinolaringología del Hospital de Clínicas

“…Un estudio multicéntrico realizado por Scapini y cols. demuestra que en los pacientes con serología positiva para SARS-CoV-2 presentaban una mayor tasa de contactos domésticos infectados que los pacientes seronegativos 21 .…”