tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Clin Microbiol Infect
. 2021 May 18;S1198-743X(21)00236-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2021.05.014. Online ahead of print.
Non-occupational and occupational factors associated with specific SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among hospital workers - A multicentre cross-sectional study
Christian R Kahlert[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Raphael Persi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Sabine G?sewell[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Thomas Egger[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Onicio B Leal-Neto[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Johannes Sumer[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Domenica Flury[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Angela Brucher[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Eva Lemmenmeier[SUP] 6 [/SUP], J Carsten M?ller[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Philip Rieder[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Reto Stocker[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Danielle Vuichard-Gysin[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Benedikt Wiggli[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Werner C Albrich[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Baharak Babouee Flury[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ulrike Besold[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Jan Fehr[SUP] 12 [/SUP], Stefan P Kuster[SUP] 13 [/SUP], Allison McGeer[SUP] 14 [/SUP], Lorenz Risch[SUP] 15 [/SUP], Matthias Schlegel[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Andr?e Friedl[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Pietro Vernazza[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Philipp Kohler[SUP] 16 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Objectives: Protecting healthcare workers (HCW) from Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) is critical to preserve the functioning of healthcare systems. We therefore assessed seroprevalence and identified risk factors for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) seropositivity in this population.
Methods: Between June 22[SUP]nd[/SUP] and August 15[SUP]th[/SUP] 2020, HCW from institutions in Northern/Eastern Switzerland were screened for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We recorded baseline characteristics, non-occupational and occupational risk factors. We used pairwise tests of associations and multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with seropositivity.
Results: Among 4'664 HCW from 23 healthcare facilities, 139 (3%) were seropositive. Non-occupational exposures independently associated with seropositivity were contact with a COVID-19-positive household (adjusted OR=59, 95%-CI: 33-106), stay in a COVID-19 hotspot (aOR=2.3, 95%-CI: 1.2-4.2), and male sex (aOR=1.9, 95%-CI: 1.1-3.1). Blood group 0 vs. non-0 (aOR=0.5, 95%-CI: 0.3-0.8), active smoking (aOR=0.4, 95%-CI: 0.2-0.7), living with children <12 years (aOR=0.3, 95%-CI: 0.2-0.6), and being a physician (aOR 0.2, 95%-CI: 0.1-0.5) were associated with decreased risk. Other occupational risk factors were close contact to COVID-19 patients (aOR=2.7, 95%-CI: 1.4-5.4), exposure to COVID-19-positive co-workers (aOR=1.9, 95%-CI: 1.1-2.9), poor knowledge of standard hygiene precautions (aOR=1.9, 95%-CI: 1.2-2.9), and frequent visits to the hospital canteen (aOR=2.3, 95%-CI: 1.4-3.8).
Conclusions: Living with COVID-19-positive households showed the strongest association with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. We identified several potentially modifiable work-related risk factors, which might allow mitigation of the COVID-19 risk among HCW. The lower risk among those living with children, even after correction for multiple confounders, is remarkable and merits further study.
Keywords: COVID-19; Healthcare workers; Risk factors; Seroprevalence; Switzerland.
. 2021 May 18;S1198-743X(21)00236-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2021.05.014. Online ahead of print.
Non-occupational and occupational factors associated with specific SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among hospital workers - A multicentre cross-sectional study
Christian R Kahlert[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Raphael Persi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Sabine G?sewell[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Thomas Egger[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Onicio B Leal-Neto[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Johannes Sumer[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Domenica Flury[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Angela Brucher[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Eva Lemmenmeier[SUP] 6 [/SUP], J Carsten M?ller[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Philip Rieder[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Reto Stocker[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Danielle Vuichard-Gysin[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Benedikt Wiggli[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Werner C Albrich[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Baharak Babouee Flury[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ulrike Besold[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Jan Fehr[SUP] 12 [/SUP], Stefan P Kuster[SUP] 13 [/SUP], Allison McGeer[SUP] 14 [/SUP], Lorenz Risch[SUP] 15 [/SUP], Matthias Schlegel[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Andr?e Friedl[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Pietro Vernazza[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Philipp Kohler[SUP] 16 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 34020033
- DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2021.05.014
Abstract
Objectives: Protecting healthcare workers (HCW) from Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) is critical to preserve the functioning of healthcare systems. We therefore assessed seroprevalence and identified risk factors for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) seropositivity in this population.
Methods: Between June 22[SUP]nd[/SUP] and August 15[SUP]th[/SUP] 2020, HCW from institutions in Northern/Eastern Switzerland were screened for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We recorded baseline characteristics, non-occupational and occupational risk factors. We used pairwise tests of associations and multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with seropositivity.
Results: Among 4'664 HCW from 23 healthcare facilities, 139 (3%) were seropositive. Non-occupational exposures independently associated with seropositivity were contact with a COVID-19-positive household (adjusted OR=59, 95%-CI: 33-106), stay in a COVID-19 hotspot (aOR=2.3, 95%-CI: 1.2-4.2), and male sex (aOR=1.9, 95%-CI: 1.1-3.1). Blood group 0 vs. non-0 (aOR=0.5, 95%-CI: 0.3-0.8), active smoking (aOR=0.4, 95%-CI: 0.2-0.7), living with children <12 years (aOR=0.3, 95%-CI: 0.2-0.6), and being a physician (aOR 0.2, 95%-CI: 0.1-0.5) were associated with decreased risk. Other occupational risk factors were close contact to COVID-19 patients (aOR=2.7, 95%-CI: 1.4-5.4), exposure to COVID-19-positive co-workers (aOR=1.9, 95%-CI: 1.1-2.9), poor knowledge of standard hygiene precautions (aOR=1.9, 95%-CI: 1.2-2.9), and frequent visits to the hospital canteen (aOR=2.3, 95%-CI: 1.4-3.8).
Conclusions: Living with COVID-19-positive households showed the strongest association with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. We identified several potentially modifiable work-related risk factors, which might allow mitigation of the COVID-19 risk among HCW. The lower risk among those living with children, even after correction for multiple confounders, is remarkable and merits further study.
Keywords: COVID-19; Healthcare workers; Risk factors; Seroprevalence; Switzerland.