Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Among Frontline Health Care Personnel in a Multistate Hospital Network — 13 Academic Medical Centers, April–June 2020
Authors: Wesley H. Self, Mark W. Tenforde, William B. Stubblefield, Leora R. Feldstein, Jay S. Steingrub, Nathan I. Shapiro, Adit A. Ginde, Matthew E. Prekker, Samuel M. Brown, Ithan D. Peltan, Michelle N. Gong, Michael S. Aboodi, Akram Khan, Matthew C. Exline, D. Clark Files, Kevin W. Gibbs, Christopher J. Lindsell, Todd. W. Rice, Ian D. Jones, Natasha Halasa, H. Keipp Talbot, Carlos G. Grijalva, Jonathan D. Casey, David N. Hager, Nida Qadir, Daniel J. Henning, Melissa M. Coughlin, Jarad Schiffer, Vera Semenova, Han Li, Natalie J. Thornburg, Manish M. Patel, Adrienne Baughman, Kimberly W. Hart, Robert McClellan, Rendie McHenry, Jakea Johnson, Andrea Fletcher, Curtis Rich, Kemberlyne Cordero, Lori Kozikowski, Lesley De Souza, Sarah Romain, Scott Ouellette, Andres Santana, Sherell Thornton-Thompson, Michelle Howell, Jennifer Peers, Shelby Shelton, Lani Finck, Kirsten Soules, Michael Klausner, Ximena Calderon-Morales, Heidi L. Erickson, Audrey Hendrickson, Jamie Stang, Ellen Maruggi, Alex Dunn, Eddie Stenehjem, Intermountain Healthcare, Valerie Aston, Mikaele Bown, Michelle Matheu, Rilee Smith, Olivia Krol, Andrew Salar, Oregon Health, Makrina Kamel, Oregon Health, Kelly Nguyen, Peter Huynh, Sarah Karow, Michelle Bright, Holly Bookless, Sandy Mullins, Kelly Neidert, Dina McGowan, Elizabeth Cassandra, Emily Brown, Claire Carlin, Trina Wemlinger, Breona Edwards, Lori Flores, Mary LaRose, Kathie J. Ferbas, Rachel Martin-Blais, Grace M. Aldrovandi, Olivia Thompson, Sakshi Sehgal, Mohammed Ata Ur Rasheed, Lisa Mills, Sandra N. Lester, Brandi Freeman, Bailey Alston, Muyiwa Ategbole, Peter Browning, Li Cronin, Ebenezer David, Rita Desai, Monica Epperson, Yamini Gorantla, Tao Jia, Pete Maniatis, Kristina Ortiz, So Hee Park, Palak Patel, Yunlong Qin, Heather Tatum, Briana Zellner
Journal: MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2020)

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.