tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Infection
. 2021 Aug 11.
doi: 10.1007/s15010-021-01672-z. Online ahead of print.
In-depth profiling of COVID-19 risk factors and preventive measures in healthcare workers
Paul R Wratil[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Niklas A Schmacke[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 3 [/SUP], Andreas Osterman[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 4 [/SUP], Tobias Weinberger[SUP] 5 6 [/SUP], Jochen Rech[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Burak Karakoc[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Mira Zeilberger[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Julius Steffen[SUP] 5 6 [/SUP], Tonina T Mueller[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Patricia M Spaeth[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Marcel Stern[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Manuel Albanese[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Hella Thun[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Julia Reinbold[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Benedikt Sandmeyer[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Philipp Kressirer[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Béatrice Grabein[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Peter Falkai[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Kristina Adorjan[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Veit Hornung[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Lars Kaderali[SUP] 12 [/SUP], Matthias Klein[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 13 [/SUP], Oliver T Keppler[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 14 15 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Purpose: To determine risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in healthcare workers (HCWs), characterize symptoms, and evaluate preventive measures against SARS-CoV-2 spread in hospitals.
Methods: In a cross-sectional study conducted between May 27 and August 12, 2020, after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, we obtained serological, epidemiological, occupational as well as COVID-19-related data at a quaternary care, multicenter hospital in Munich, Germany.
Results: 7554 HCWs participated, 2.2% of whom tested positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Multivariate analysis revealed increased COVID-19 risk for nurses (3.1% seropositivity, 95% CI 2.5-3.9%, p = 0.012), staff working on COVID-19 units (4.6% seropositivity, 95% CI 3.2-6.5%, p = 0.032), males (2.4% seropositivity, 95% CI 1.8-3.2%, p = 0.019), and HCWs reporting high-risk exposures to infected patients (5.5% seropositivity, 95% CI 4.0-7.5%, p = 0.0022) or outside of work (12.0% seropositivity, 95% CI 8.0-17.4%, p < 0.0001). Smoking was a protective factor (1.1% seropositivity, 95% CI 0.7-1.8% p = 0.00018) and the symptom taste disorder was strongly associated with COVID-19 (29.8% seropositivity, 95% CI 24.3-35.8%, p < 0.0001). An unbiased decision tree identified subgroups with different risk profiles. Working from home as a preventive measure did not protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection. A PCR-testing strategy focused on symptoms and high-risk exposures detected all larger COVID-19 outbreaks.
Conclusion: Awareness of the identified COVID-19 risk factors and successful surveillance strategies are key to protecting HCWs against SARS-CoV-2, especially in settings with limited vaccination capacities or reduced vaccine efficacy.
Keywords: COVID-19; Healthcare workers; Prevention; Risk factors; SARS-CoV-2.
. 2021 Aug 11.
doi: 10.1007/s15010-021-01672-z. Online ahead of print.
In-depth profiling of COVID-19 risk factors and preventive measures in healthcare workers
Paul R Wratil[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Niklas A Schmacke[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 3 [/SUP], Andreas Osterman[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 4 [/SUP], Tobias Weinberger[SUP] 5 6 [/SUP], Jochen Rech[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Burak Karakoc[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Mira Zeilberger[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Julius Steffen[SUP] 5 6 [/SUP], Tonina T Mueller[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Patricia M Spaeth[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Marcel Stern[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Manuel Albanese[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Hella Thun[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Julia Reinbold[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Benedikt Sandmeyer[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Philipp Kressirer[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Béatrice Grabein[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Peter Falkai[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Kristina Adorjan[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Veit Hornung[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Lars Kaderali[SUP] 12 [/SUP], Matthias Klein[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 13 [/SUP], Oliver T Keppler[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 14 15 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 34379308
- DOI: 10.1007/s15010-021-01672-z
Abstract
Purpose: To determine risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in healthcare workers (HCWs), characterize symptoms, and evaluate preventive measures against SARS-CoV-2 spread in hospitals.
Methods: In a cross-sectional study conducted between May 27 and August 12, 2020, after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, we obtained serological, epidemiological, occupational as well as COVID-19-related data at a quaternary care, multicenter hospital in Munich, Germany.
Results: 7554 HCWs participated, 2.2% of whom tested positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Multivariate analysis revealed increased COVID-19 risk for nurses (3.1% seropositivity, 95% CI 2.5-3.9%, p = 0.012), staff working on COVID-19 units (4.6% seropositivity, 95% CI 3.2-6.5%, p = 0.032), males (2.4% seropositivity, 95% CI 1.8-3.2%, p = 0.019), and HCWs reporting high-risk exposures to infected patients (5.5% seropositivity, 95% CI 4.0-7.5%, p = 0.0022) or outside of work (12.0% seropositivity, 95% CI 8.0-17.4%, p < 0.0001). Smoking was a protective factor (1.1% seropositivity, 95% CI 0.7-1.8% p = 0.00018) and the symptom taste disorder was strongly associated with COVID-19 (29.8% seropositivity, 95% CI 24.3-35.8%, p < 0.0001). An unbiased decision tree identified subgroups with different risk profiles. Working from home as a preventive measure did not protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection. A PCR-testing strategy focused on symptoms and high-risk exposures detected all larger COVID-19 outbreaks.
Conclusion: Awareness of the identified COVID-19 risk factors and successful surveillance strategies are key to protecting HCWs against SARS-CoV-2, especially in settings with limited vaccination capacities or reduced vaccine efficacy.
Keywords: COVID-19; Healthcare workers; Prevention; Risk factors; SARS-CoV-2.