Differential occupational risks to healthcare workers from SARS-CoV-2 observed during a prospective observational study

Elife. 2020 Aug 21:9:e60675. doi: 10.7554/eLife.60675.

Abstract

We conducted voluntary Covid-19 testing programmes for symptomatic and asymptomatic staff at a UK teaching hospital using naso-/oro-pharyngeal PCR testing and immunoassays for IgG antibodies. 1128/10,034 (11.2%) staff had evidence of Covid-19 at some time. Using questionnaire data provided on potential risk-factors, staff with a confirmed household contact were at greatest risk (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.82 [95%CI 3.45-6.72]). Higher rates of Covid-19 were seen in staff working in Covid-19-facing areas (22.6% vs. 8.6% elsewhere) (aOR 2.47 [1.99-3.08]). Controlling for Covid-19-facing status, risks were heterogenous across the hospital, with higher rates in acute medicine (1.52 [1.07-2.16]) and sporadic outbreaks in areas with few or no Covid-19 patients. Covid-19 intensive care unit staff were relatively protected (0.44 [0.28-0.69]), likely by a bundle of PPE-related measures. Positive results were more likely in Black (1.66 [1.25-2.21]) and Asian (1.51 [1.28-1.77]) staff, independent of role or working location, and in porters and cleaners (2.06 [1.34-3.15]).

Keywords: Covid-19; SARS-CoV-2; epidemiology; global health; healthcare workers; risk factors; serology; symptoms; virus.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Asymptomatic Infections / epidemiology
  • Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / transmission
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Female
  • Health Personnel / statistics & numerical data*
  • Hospitals, Teaching / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / statistics & numerical data
  • Intensive Care Units / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / transmission
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • Risk
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology
  • Young Adult