Occupations Associated with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection and Vaccination, US Blood Donors, May 2021–December 2021

Details

• Personal Author:
  Benoit TJ ; Feldstein LR ; Groenewold MR ; Haynes JM ; Jones JM ; Saydah SH ; Shah MM ; Spencer BR ; Stramer SL
• Description:
  Background: There are limited data on the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the United States by occupation. We identified occupations at higher risk for prior SARS-CoV-2 infection as defined by the presence of infection-induced antibodies among US blood donors. Methods: Using a nested case-control study design, blood donors during May-December 2021 with anti-nucleocapsid (anti-N) testing were sent an electronic survey on employment status, vaccination, and occupation. The association between previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and occupation-specific in-person work was estimated using multivariable logistic regression adjusting for sex, age, month of donation, race and ethnicity, education, vaccination, and telework. Results: Among 85 986 included survey respondents, 9504 (11.1%) were anti-N reactive. Healthcare support (20.3%), protective service (19.9%), and food preparation and serving related occupations (19.7%) had the highest proportion of prior infection. After adjustment, prior SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with healthcare practitioners (adjusted odds ratio aOR, 2.10; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.74-2.54) and healthcare support (aOR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.39-2.40) occupations compared with computer and mathematical occupations as the referent group. Lack of coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination (aOR, 16.13; 95% CI, 15.01-17.34) and never teleworking (aOR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.05-1.30) were also independently associated with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Construction and extraction occupations had the highest proportion of unvaccinated workers (30.5%). Conclusions: Workers in healthcare, protective services, and food preparation had the highest prevalence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Occupational risks for SARS-CoV-2 infection remained after adjusting for vaccination, telework, and demographic factors. These findings underscore the need for mitigation measures and personal protection in healthcare settings and other workplaces. Description provided by NIOSH
• Subjects:
  • Antibodies
  • Blood
  • Communicable Diseases
  • Epidemiology
  • Hematologic Tests
  • Occupational Health
  • Safety
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
• Keywords:
  • Occupations
  • Surveillance
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus
  • Health surveys
  • Antibodies
  • Blood analysis
  • Nested case control studies
  • Epidemiology
  More +
• ISSN:
  1058-4838
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; Maryland ; Massachusetts ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DFSE - Division of Field Studies and Engineering
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  76
• Issue:
  7
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20066508
• Citation:
  Clin Infect Dis 2023 Apr; 76(7):1285-1294
• Contact Point Address:
  Melisa Shah, Applied Epidemiologic Studies Team, Coronavirus and other Respiratory Viruses Division (proposed), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Response, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30329
• Email:
  Bgn3@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2023
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Clinical Infectious Diseases
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/231100/cdc_231100_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 655.01 KB]
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ad401b580902d588797af40302340c37b94189b8955767e4b8122fbde2856bef5d9e70a310640d541491b4928be50e9ac2248b1ab3127e10a67fed5755747f79