Abstract
Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the occupational SARS-CoV-2 infection risk among health care workers (HCW) at University of Kentucky HealthCare (UKHC) by evaluating the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of HCW at UKHC. SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody seropositivity was measured in a CLIA-certified laboratory utilizing the Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody assay. Demographics and work type were self-reported by study participants via an emailed survey. Results: The overall antibody positivity rate of HCW was 1.55% (5/322; 95% confidence interval: 0.65%-3.71%) at cohort entry. There were no differences in antibody positivity between those that worked directly with SARS-CoV-2 infected patients and those that did not. The antibody rate of positivity of patients during the same time period was similar, 1.8% (9/499; 95% confidence interval 0.94%-3.45%). Conclusions: Antibody positivity was low and similar between HCW and patients tested during a similar time period. HCW positivity rates did not appear to be impacted by caring for known SARS-CoV-2 infected patients suggesting that appropriate use of personal protective equipment is effective in protecting individuals from transmission.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1158-1161 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | American Journal of Infection Control |
| Volume | 49 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2021 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc.
Funding
The study investigators gratefully acknowledge the UKHC health care workers who made this study possible, study staff, Justin Levens who managed the data and Leslie Ehrmantraut, who coordinated between the study team and Employee Health. The authors also acknowledge the UK Screening Testing and Tracing to Accelerate Restart and Transition (START) team for helpful discussion and critical review of the manuscript, the START team includes; Robert DiPaola, MD, Donna K. Arnett, PhD, Susanne Arnold, MD, Jay Blanton, Richard Chapman, Becky Dutch, PhD, Derek Forster, MD, Tyler Gayheart, PhD, Lauren Greathouse, Hanine El Haddad, MD, Cliff Iler, JD, C. Darrel Jennings, MD, Jill Kolesar, PharmD, Ian McClure, JD, Erin McMahon, JD, Brian Nichols, Lance Poston, PhD, Evan Ramsay, Frank Romanelli, PharmD, Jennifer Rose, Mathew Sanger, Colleen Swartz, DNP, Heidi Weiss, PhD, Pamela Woods. Conflicts of interest: None: RS, DF, RD, CJ, NL, ED. Dr Berry reports personal fees and other from Salus Discovery, LLC, outside the submitted work. Dr Kolesar reports other from Helix Diagnostic, grants and other from ArtemiLife, outside the submitted work; In addition, Dr Kolesar has a patent Copywrite pending.
| Funders |
|---|
| Helix Diagnostic |
UN SDGs
This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
Keywords
- COVID-19
- Health systems
- Personal protective equipment
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Epidemiology
- Health Policy
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Infectious Diseases
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