Risk Factors Associated With SARS-CoV-2 Seropositivity Among US Health Care Personnel

Abstract

IMPORTANCE Risks for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among health care personnel (HCP) are unclear. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among HCP with the a priori hypothesis that community exposure but not health care exposure was associated with seropositivity. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cross-sectional study was conducted among volunteer HCP at 4 large health care systems in 3 US states. Sites shared deidentified data sets, including previously collected serology results, questionnaire results on community and workplace exposures at the time of serology, and 3-digit residential zip code prefix of HCP. Site-specific responses were mapped to a common metadata set. Residential weekly coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cumulative incidence was calculated from state-based COVID-19 case and census data. EXPOSURES Model variables included demographic (age, race, sex, ethnicity), community (known COVID-19 contact, COVID-19 cumulative incidence by 3-digit zip code prefix), and health care (workplace, job role, COVID-19 patient contact) factors. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES The main outcome was SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. Risk factors for seropositivity were estimated using a mixed-effects logistic regression model with a random intercept to account for clustering by site. RESULTS Among 24 749 HCP, most were younger than 50 years (17 233 [69.6%]), were women (19 361 [78.2%]), were White individuals (15 157 [61.2%]), and reported workplace contact with patients with COVID-19 (12 413 [50.2%]). Many HCP worked in the inpatient setting (8893 [35.9%]) and were nurses (7830 [31.6%]). Cumulative incidence of COVID-19 per 10 000 in the community up to 1 week prior to serology testing ranged from 8.2 to 275.6; 20 072 HCP (81.1%) reported no COVID-19 contact in the community. Seropositivity was 4.4% (95% CI, 4.1%-4.6%; 1080 HCP) overall. In multivariable analysis, community COVID-19 contact and community COVID-19 cumulative incidence were associated with seropositivity

Safety and structural integrity of N95/PFF2 respirators decontamination

“…Moreover, there is evidence that when the PPE are used correctly during assistance to patients infected by SARS-CoV-2 the infection risks are lower than when the HCWs are exposed to non-occupational environment 10 . To reduce these risks and infections there are instructions to promote the use of PPEs, practice of hand hygiene, support for psychological needs, improve of logistics of medical supplies 11 , care of communities and population vaccination.…”

“…To reduce these risks and infections there are instructions to promote the use of PPEs, practice of hand hygiene, support for psychological needs, improve of logistics of medical supplies 11 , care of communities and population vaccination. 10 …”

COVID-19-Ausbruch-Untersuchung in einer geriatrisch-palliativmedizinischen Klinik

“…Ähnliches wurde für engere Pflegekontakte auch in einer anderen Krankenhausausbruchsuntersuchung [ 12 ] und großen Kohortenstudie beobachtet [ 1 ]. Wurden dieser Zeitfaktor und das Fachgebiet jedoch nicht differenziert einbezogen, so wurde bei einer Querschnittsstudie sogar keine arbeitsbedingte Assoziation mit Infektionen bei HCP gefunden [ 7 ]. Unserer Erfahrung nach spielt der pflegeintensive geriatrische Kontext mit längerer Aufenthaltsdauer im Patientenzimmer eine wesentliche Rolle, zudem die erschwerte Umsetzbarkeit von Hygieneregeln seitens der Patient*innen, wie etwa das Tragen eines MNS bei Demenz, lautes Sprechen/Rufen bei Hörschwäche und/oder Delir und damit die erhöhte Aerosolbildung [ 4 ].…”

Infection Prevention Strategies in COVID-19 Units Highly Protective While Primary Risks to Healthcare Professionals Come From Coworkers and the Community

“…[1][2][3][4][5] Evidence is beginning to emerge that COVID-19 seroprevalence among HCPs mirrors the communities in which they live. [6][7][8][9] Nevertheless the perception of risk among HCPs during patient care remains high and calls into question the effectiveness of infection prevention strategies deployed to protect them. 10,11 Many currently available studies assess incidence or prevalence of COVID-19 among randomly sampled HCPs and infer occupational risk by de ning exposure broadly as having worked in healthcare or in a COVID patient care unit without addressing ongoing clusters (outbreaks) related to coworkers working while ill or community exposures.…”