Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Among Frontline Health Care Personnel in a Multistate Hospital Network - 13 Academic Medical Centers, April-June 2020

Abstract

Health care personnel (HCP) caring for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) might be at high risk for contracting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Understanding the prevalence of and factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among frontline HCP who care for COVID-19 patients are important for protecting both HCP and their patients. During April 3-June 19, 2020, serum specimens were collected from a convenience sample of frontline HCP who worked with COVID-19 patients at 13 geographically diverse academic medical centers in the United States, and specimens were tested for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. Participants were asked about potential symptoms of COVID-19 experienced since February 1, 2020, previous testing for acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, and their use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the past week. Among 3,248 participants, 194 (6.0%) had positive test results for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Seroprevalence by hospital ranged from 0.8% to 31.2% (median = 3.6%). Among the 194 seropositive participants, 56 (29%) reported no symptoms since February 1, 2020, 86 (44%) did not believe that they previously had COVID-19, and 133 (69%) did not report a previous COVID-19 diagnosis. Seroprevalence was lower among personnel who reported always wearing a face covering (defined in this study as a surgical mask, N95 respirator, or powered air purifying respirator [PAPR]) while caring for patients (5.6%), compared with that among those who did not (9.0%) (p = 0.012). Consistent with persons in the general population with SARS-CoV-2 infection, many frontline HCP with SARS-CoV-2 infection might be asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic during infection, and infection might be unrecognized. Enhanced screening, including frequent testing of frontline HCP, and universal use of face coverings in hospitals are two strategies that could reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

FIGURE

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among a convenience sample of frontline health care personnel and local area community cumulative incidence of COVID-19 — 13 academic medical centers, United States, April–June 2020 Abbreviation: COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019. * Calculated as the total number of reported community COVID-19 cases within a hospital-area county or counties between the beginning of the pandemic and 7 days after the first day of health care personnel enrollment at the hospital divided by population of the county or counties x 1,000. ^† The medical centers, counties, and dates of enrollment included: Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York (Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond counties, May 4–5, 2020); Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Massachusetts (Hampden County, April 22–29, 2020); Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (Davidson County, April 3–13, 2020); UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, Colorado (Adams, Arapahoe, and Denver counties, April 16–20, 2020); Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts (Suffolk County, April 20–27, 2020); UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California (Los Angeles County, May 26–June 5, 2020); Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington (King County, April 30–May 11, 2020); Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Hennepin County, April 23–28, 2020); Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland (Baltimore County and Baltimore City, June 12–19, 2020); Oregon Health & Sciences University Hospital, Portland, Oregon (Multnomah County, May 6–7, 2020); Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Forsyth County April 29–May 7, 2020); Intermountain Medical Center, Murray, Utah (Salt Lake County, April 30, 2020); Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio (Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Madison, Pickaway, and Fairfield counties, April 20–May 21, 2020).