COVID-19: SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility in healthcare workers – cluster study at a German Teaching Hospital

Scherer, Michael; Freyburg, Alexander von; Brücher, Björn L.D.M.; Jamall, Ijaz S.; Schmidt, Annette; Hagedorn, Hjalmar

doi:10.1051/fopen/2020006

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 39 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…There are, however, also reports of high seroprevalence among HCWs in Germany. A recently published study reported a 10- to 20-fold increased risk for HCWs to acquire a SARS-CoV-2 infection at work [ 26 ]. However, this study was done in a large academic teaching hospital with a COVID-19-positive patient load of up to 34.5%, which is not comparable to the number of COVID-19 patients seen in the medical center investigated in this study (36 cases between 1 January and 7 April 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Health Care Workers—A Voluntary Screening Study in a Regional Medical Center in Southern Germany

Müller

Girl

Ruhnke

et al. 2021

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is associated with a potentially severe clinical manifestation, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and currently poses a worldwide challenge. Health care workers (HCWs) are at the forefront of any health care system and thus especially at risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection due to their potentially frequent and close contact with patients suffering from COVID-19. Serum samples from 198 HCWs with direct patient contact of a regional medical center and several outpatient facilities were collected during the early phase of the pandemic (April 2020) and tested for SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. Commercially available IgA- and IgG-specific ELISAs were used as screening technique, followed by an in-house neutralization assay for confirmation. Neutralizing SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies were detected in seven of 198 (3.5%) tested HCWs. There was no significant difference in seroprevalence between the regional medical center (3.4%) and the outpatient institution (5%). The overall seroprevalence of neutralizing SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in HCWs in both a large regional medical center and a small outpatient institution was low (3.5%) at the beginning of April 2020. The findings may indicate that the timely implemented preventive measures (strict hygiene protocols, personal protective equipment) were effective to protect from transmission of an airborne virus when only limited information on the pathogen was available.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Health Care Workers—A Voluntary Screening Study in a Regional Medical Center in Southern Germany

Müller

Girl

Ruhnke

et al. 2021

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A detailed epidemiological/phylogenetic study from South Africa showed that one SARS-CoV-2-infected person led to clusters in different hospital wards, leading to 39 infected patients and 80 infected staff members (35). Likewise, a recent report from a German teaching hospital demonstrated that only one index COVID-19 patient led to five infected staff members, subsequently resulting in more than 30% of infected hospitalized patients, emphasizing the need for a widespread SARS-CoV-2 testing and rapid isolation of positive cases (14). Thus, it is imperative to provide a safe hospital environment for patients and employees.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Infectiousness in the early stage of the disease and transmissions in the presymptomatic state or from persons with an asymptomatic course of the disease is likely high (10)(11)(12). This has been shown to cause clusters in vulnerable population, such as residents of nursing homes, as well as hospitalized patients (13,14). Likewise, caretakers and healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection (15,16).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preventing SARS-CoV-2 In-Hospital Infections in Cardiovascular Patients and Medical Staff: An Observational Study From the German Heart Center Berlin

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Preventing in-hospital infections is crucial to protect patients and hospital staff.Methods: At the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the German Heart Center initiated obligatory wearing of surgical face masks for patients and employees, SARS-CoV-2 screening for all patients, and symptom-based testing for employees. In addition, access restriction, closure of outpatient departments, and postponing non-urgent procedures were implemented with community-initiated regulations.Results: During the observation period (03/16/2020–04/27/2020), 1,128 SARS-CoV-2 tests were performed in 983 persons (1.1 tests/person; 589 in patients and 394 in hospital employees). Up to 60% of the clinical workforce was tested based on symptoms and risk (62.5% symptoms, 19.3% direct or indirect contact to known COVID-19, 4.5% returnee from risk area, 13.7% without specific reason). Patient testing for SARS-CoV-2 was obligatory (100% tested). The overall prevalence of positive tests during the observation period was 0.4% (n = 5 out of 1,128 tests performed). The incidence of new infections with SARS-CoV-2 was 0.5% (n = 5 out of 983 individuals; three healthcare workers, two patients). No nosocominal infections occurred, despite a mean number of 14.8 in-hospital contacts.Conclusion: Comprehensive SARS-CoV-2 testing and surgical face masks for patients and hospital staff, in addition to others measures, are key factors for the early detection of COVID-19 and to prevent spreading in the vulnerable hospital population.

show abstract

“…In a hospital that was shut down due to a COVID-19 outbreak (COVID-19 positive rate of 35% among the 132 remaining patients) the risk of COVID infection for HCWs was 10-to 20-fold higher (and especially high in nurses) compared to the general population. 51 COVID-19 risk was investigated in 28,792 Danish HCWs by screening for IgM and IgG serum antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and comparing to blood donors. 52 Seroprevalence was highest in HCWs on COVID-19 wards (P < 0.0001) followed by front-line HCWs (P < 0.0001).…”

Section: Surgeon and Health Care Worker Safetymentioning

confidence: 99%

Patient, Surgeon, and Health Care Worker Safety during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Hölscher¹

2021

Annals of Surgery

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

PATIENT SAFETYT he painting of Pablo Picasso from 1897 entitled ''Ciencia y Caridad'' describes 2 aspects of patient safety very well (Fig. 1). At the center of the tableau is a bedridden patient. The physician measures the pulse while looking gravely and concentratedly at his pocket watch. He represents in the interpretation of Picasso, whose uncle was a physician, the rational and scientific aspects of treatment. The nun looks toward the patient, serves fluid, and takes care of the patient's child. She stands in this painting from the century before last for the emotional and practical aspects of care. Both are important for the safety and wellbeing of our patients. The patient should feel secure and confident by virtue of receiving both empathic and scientifically grounded safe treatment under the maxim ''primum nihil nocere.'' ''Patient safety is a framework of organized activities that creates cultures, processes, procedures, behaviors, technologies, and environment in health care that consistently and sustainably lower risks, reduce the occurrence of avoidable harm, make error less likely, and reduce its impact when it does occur.'' 1 Undoubtedly securing patient safety now requires teamwork, but in the case of surgical treatment patient safety nevertheless remains a paramount issue for the surgeon, who will often have been chosen personally by the patient. 2 The surgeon assumes responsibility for his patient and accompanies him during the pre, intra-and postoperative periodslonger than all other contributing allied disciplines. This results in a special, close, and reciprocal relationship and the patient will ultimately see the surgeon as primarily responsible for the success or failure of the treatment as a whole. Burden of Impaired Patient Safety Before the COVID-19 PandemicMany medical centers, health care systems, national and international organizations have made great efforts to analyses the frequency of adverse medical events and to determine their origins to establish best procedures and guidelines for their prevention. [3][4][5][6][7][8] The central aims of these efforts were firstly to reduce the burden of morbidity and mortality borne by patients and their families and secondly to reduce both the enormous costs of subsequent treatment and litigation, and the wider economic consequences of disability and unemployment.On average 1 in every 10 patients experiences an adverse event while receiving hospital care in high-income countries. 1 The most frequently occurring adverse events are health careassociated infections, venous thromboembolism, adverse drug events, pressure injuries, diagnostic errors, and wrong site surgeries. 3 In high-income countries up to 15% of hospital expenditure is spent on preventable safety failures. 3 The WHO Regional Office for Europe reported in 2019 that >750,000 medical errors resulting in harm occur in Europe each year, including 260,000 incidents resulting in permanent disability and almost 100,000 incidents resulting in death; all of which leads to >3.2 million add...

show abstract

COVID-19: SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility in healthcare workers – cluster study at a German Teaching Hospital

Cited by 7 publications

References 39 publications

SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Health Care Workers—A Voluntary Screening Study in a Regional Medical Center in Southern Germany

SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Health Care Workers—A Voluntary Screening Study in a Regional Medical Center in Southern Germany

Preventing SARS-CoV-2 In-Hospital Infections in Cardiovascular Patients and Medical Staff: An Observational Study From the German Heart Center Berlin

Patient, Surgeon, and Health Care Worker Safety during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About