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Association between SARS-CoV-2 and exposure risks in health care workers and university employees – a cross-sectional study

Nygren, David LU orcid ; Norén, Jonas ; De Marinis, Yang LU ; Holmberg, Anna LU ; Fraenkel, Carl-Johan LU and Rasmussen, Magnus LU (2021) In Infectious Diseases 53(6). p.460-468
Abstract
Background

In health care workers SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to be an occupational health risk, often associated with transmission between health care workers. Yet, insufficient information on transmission dynamics has been presented to elucidate the precise risk factors for contracting SARS-CoV-2 in this group.
Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we investigated association between questionnaire answers on potential exposure situations and SARS-CoV-2-positivity. Health care workers with and without COVID-19-patient contact at nine units at Skåne University Hospitals in Malmö and Lund, Sweden and university employees from Lund University, Sweden were enrolled. To limit impact of health care worker to health care... (More)
Background

In health care workers SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to be an occupational health risk, often associated with transmission between health care workers. Yet, insufficient information on transmission dynamics has been presented to elucidate the precise risk factors for contracting SARS-CoV-2 in this group.
Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we investigated association between questionnaire answers on potential exposure situations and SARS-CoV-2-positivity. Health care workers with and without COVID-19-patient contact at nine units at Skåne University Hospitals in Malmö and Lund, Sweden and university employees from Lund University, Sweden were enrolled. To limit impact of health care worker to health care worker transmission, units with known outbreaks were excluded. A SARS-CoV-2-positive case was defined by a previous positive PCR or anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG in the ZetaGene COVID-19 Antibody Test.
Results

SARS-CoV-2-positivity was detected in 11/51 (22%) health care workers in COVID-19-units, 10/220 (5%) in non-COVID-19-units and 11/192 (6%) University employees (p = .001, Fischer’s exact). In health care workers, SARS-CoV-2-positivity was associated with work in a designated COVID-19-unit (OR 5.7 (95CI 2.1–16)) and caring for COVID-19-patients during the majority of shifts (OR 5.4 (95CI 2.0–15)). In all participants, SARS-CoV-2-positivity was associated with a confirmed COVID-19 case (OR 10 (95CI 2.0–45)) in the household.
Conclusion

Our study confirmed previous findings of elevated risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 in health care workers in COVID-19-units, despite exclusion of units with known outbreaks. Interestingly, health care workers in non-COVID-19-units had similar risk as University employees. Further measures to improve the safety of health care workers might be needed. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Infectious Diseases
volume
53
issue
6
pages
9 pages
publisher
Informa Healthcare
external identifiers
  • scopus:85102265596
  • pmid:33689558
ISSN
1651-1980
DOI
10.1080/23744235.2021.1892819
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b7796726-bee7-495e-9db7-683623468b7b
date added to LUP
2021-03-14 20:14:12
date last changed
2024-05-02 04:48:07
@article{b7796726-bee7-495e-9db7-683623468b7b,
  abstract     = {{Background<br/><br/>In health care workers SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to be an occupational health risk, often associated with transmission between health care workers. Yet, insufficient information on transmission dynamics has been presented to elucidate the precise risk factors for contracting SARS-CoV-2 in this group.<br/>Methods<br/><br/>In this cross-sectional study, we investigated association between questionnaire answers on potential exposure situations and SARS-CoV-2-positivity. Health care workers with and without COVID-19-patient contact at nine units at Skåne University Hospitals in Malmö and Lund, Sweden and university employees from Lund University, Sweden were enrolled. To limit impact of health care worker to health care worker transmission, units with known outbreaks were excluded. A SARS-CoV-2-positive case was defined by a previous positive PCR or anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG in the ZetaGene COVID-19 Antibody Test.<br/>Results<br/><br/>SARS-CoV-2-positivity was detected in 11/51 (22%) health care workers in COVID-19-units, 10/220 (5%) in non-COVID-19-units and 11/192 (6%) University employees (p = .001, Fischer’s exact). In health care workers, SARS-CoV-2-positivity was associated with work in a designated COVID-19-unit (OR 5.7 (95CI 2.1–16)) and caring for COVID-19-patients during the majority of shifts (OR 5.4 (95CI 2.0–15)). In all participants, SARS-CoV-2-positivity was associated with a confirmed COVID-19 case (OR 10 (95CI 2.0–45)) in the household.<br/>Conclusion<br/><br/>Our study confirmed previous findings of elevated risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 in health care workers in COVID-19-units, despite exclusion of units with known outbreaks. Interestingly, health care workers in non-COVID-19-units had similar risk as University employees. Further measures to improve the safety of health care workers might be needed.}},
  author       = {{Nygren, David and Norén, Jonas and De Marinis, Yang and Holmberg, Anna and Fraenkel, Carl-Johan and Rasmussen, Magnus}},
  issn         = {{1651-1980}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{460--468}},
  publisher    = {{Informa Healthcare}},
  series       = {{Infectious Diseases}},
  title        = {{Association between SARS-CoV-2 and exposure risks in health care workers and university employees – a cross-sectional study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23744235.2021.1892819}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/23744235.2021.1892819}},
  volume       = {{53}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}