tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
PLoS One
. 2023 Mar 2;18(3):e0282422.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282422. eCollection 2023.
Community exposures among Colorado adults who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 -A case-control study, March-December 2021
Alice E White[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Amanda D Tran[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Michelle R Torok[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Rachel H Jervis[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Bernadette A Albanese[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Andrea G Buchwald[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Emma Schmoll[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ginger Stringer[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Rachel K Herlihy[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Elaine J Scallan Walter[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Objectives: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is spread primarily through exposure to respiratory droplets from close contact with an infected person. To inform prevention measures, we conducted a case-control study among Colorado adults to assess the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection from community exposures.
Methods: Cases were symptomatic Colorado adults (aged ≥18 years) with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) reported to Colorado's COVID-19 surveillance system. From March 16 to December 23, 2021, cases were randomly selected from surveillance data ≤12 days after their specimen collection date. Cases were matched on age, zip code (urban areas) or region (rural/frontier areas), and specimen collection date with controls randomly selected among persons with a reported negative SARS-CoV-2 test result. Data on close contact and community exposures were obtained from surveillance and a survey administered online.
Results: The most common exposure locations among all cases and controls were place of employment, social events, or gatherings and the most frequently reported exposure relationship was co-worker or friend. Cases were more likely than controls to work outside the home (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09-1.28) in industries and occupations related to accommodation and food services, retail sales, and construction. Cases were also more likely than controls to report contact with a non-household member with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 (aOR 1.16, 95% CI: 1.06-1.27).
Conclusions: Understanding the settings and activities associated with a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection is essential for informing prevention measures aimed at reducing the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory diseases. These findings emphasize the risk of community exposure to infected persons and the need for workplace precautions in preventing ongoing transmission.
. 2023 Mar 2;18(3):e0282422.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282422. eCollection 2023.
Community exposures among Colorado adults who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 -A case-control study, March-December 2021
Alice E White[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Amanda D Tran[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Michelle R Torok[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Rachel H Jervis[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Bernadette A Albanese[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Andrea G Buchwald[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Emma Schmoll[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ginger Stringer[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Rachel K Herlihy[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Elaine J Scallan Walter[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 36862756
- DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282422
Abstract
Objectives: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is spread primarily through exposure to respiratory droplets from close contact with an infected person. To inform prevention measures, we conducted a case-control study among Colorado adults to assess the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection from community exposures.
Methods: Cases were symptomatic Colorado adults (aged ≥18 years) with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) reported to Colorado's COVID-19 surveillance system. From March 16 to December 23, 2021, cases were randomly selected from surveillance data ≤12 days after their specimen collection date. Cases were matched on age, zip code (urban areas) or region (rural/frontier areas), and specimen collection date with controls randomly selected among persons with a reported negative SARS-CoV-2 test result. Data on close contact and community exposures were obtained from surveillance and a survey administered online.
Results: The most common exposure locations among all cases and controls were place of employment, social events, or gatherings and the most frequently reported exposure relationship was co-worker or friend. Cases were more likely than controls to work outside the home (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09-1.28) in industries and occupations related to accommodation and food services, retail sales, and construction. Cases were also more likely than controls to report contact with a non-household member with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 (aOR 1.16, 95% CI: 1.06-1.27).
Conclusions: Understanding the settings and activities associated with a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection is essential for informing prevention measures aimed at reducing the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory diseases. These findings emphasize the risk of community exposure to infected persons and the need for workplace precautions in preventing ongoing transmission.