Details:

Alternative Title:
Ann Emerg Med
Publisher's site:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.annemergmed.2020.12.007
Personal Author:
Mohr, Nicholas M. ; Harland, Karisa K. ; Krishnadasan, Anusha ; Eyck, Patrick Ten ; Mower, William R. ; ... More +
Mohr, Nicholas M. ; Harland, Karisa K. ; Krishnadasan, Anusha ; Eyck, Patrick Ten ; Mower, William R. ; Willey, James ; Chisolm-Straker, Makini ; Lim, Stephen C. ; McDonald, L. Clifford ; Kutty, Preeta K. ; Hesse, Elisabeth ; Santibanez, Scott ; Talan, David A. ; Less -
Corporate Authors:
Project COVERED Emergency Department Network ;
Description:
Objective: To determine the percentage of diagnosed and undiagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infection among a sample of US ED health care personnel (HCP) before July 2020. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of ED HCP in 20 geographically diverse university-affiliated EDs from May to July 2020, including case counts of prior laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 diagnoses among all ED HCP, then serology (with confirmatory testing) and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing in a sample of volunteers without a previous COVID-19 diagnosis. HCP were categorized as clinical (physicians, advanced practice providers, and nurses) and non-clinical staff (clerks, social workers, and case managers). Previously undiagnosed infection was based on positive SARS-CoV-2 serology or RT-PCR among HCP without prior diagnosis. Results: Diagnosed COVID-19 occurred in 2.8% (193/6,788) HCP, and the prevalence was similar for nonclinical and clinical staff (3.8% vs. 2.7%; odds ratio, OR 1.5, 95% confidence interval, 95% CI 0.7–3.2). Among 1,606 HCP without previously diagnosed COVID-19, 29 (1.8%) had evidence of current or past SARS-CoV-2 infection. Most (62%, 18/29) who were seropositive did not think they had been infected, 76% (19/25) recalled COVID-19-compatible symptoms, and 89% (17/19) continued to work while symptomatic. Accounting for both diagnosed and undiagnosed infections, 4.6% (95% CI 2.8–7.5%) of ED HCP were estimated to have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, with 38% of those infections undiagnosed. Conclusions: The estimated prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 4.6%, and over one-third of infections were undiagnosed. Undiagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infection may pose substantial risk for transmission to other staff and patients.
Subject:
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Adult
Coronavirus Infections
COVID-19
Cross-Sectional Studies
Emergency Service, Hospital
Female
Health Personnel
Hospitals, University
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Prevalence
SARS-CoV-2

Source:
Ann Emerg Med. 78(1):27-34 ;
Pubmed ID:
33771413
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC7746085
Document Type:
Journal Article ;
Funding:
U01 CK000480/CK/NCEZID CDC HHSUnited States/ ; U01CK000480/ACL/ACL HHSUnited States/ ; UL1 TR002537/TR/NCATS NIH HHSUnited States/ ;
U01 CK000480/CK/NCEZID CDC HHSUnited States/ ; U01CK000480/ACL/ACL HHSUnited States/ ; UL1 TR002537/TR/NCATS NIH HHSUnited States/ ; Less -
Place as Subject:
United States ;
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:7da3c260ca0e5d0c824aa721396ad97a541e2333daf2413304ef166749f15eca
File Type:

• Supporting Files:
  No Additional Files

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