Non-occupational and occupational factors associated with specific SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among Hospital Workers – a multicentre cross-sectional study

  1. Christian R. Kahlert
  2. Raphael Persi
  3. Sabine Güsewell
  4. Thomas Egger
  5. Onicio B. Leal-Neto
  6. Johannes Sumer
  7. Domenica Flury
  8. Angela Brucher
  9. Eva Lemmenmeier
  10. J. Carsten Möller
  11. Philip Rieder
  12. Reto Stocker
  13. Danielle Vuichard-Gysin
  14. Benedikt Wiggli
  15. Werner C. Albrich
  16. Baharak Babouee Flury
  17. Ulrike Besold
  18. Jan Fehr
  19. Stefan P. Kuster
  20. Allison McGeer
  21. Lorenz Risch
  22. Matthias Schlegel
  23. Andrée Friedl
  24. Pietro Vernazza
  25. Philipp Kohler
1 evaluations Published on
Read the full article Related papers
This article on Sciety

Abstract

Objectives

Protecting healthcare workers (HCW) from Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) is critical to preserve the functioning of healthcare systems. We therefore assessed seroprevalence and identified risk factors for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) seropositivity in this population.

Methods

Between June 22 nd and August 15 th 2020, HCW from institutions in Northern/Eastern Switzerland were screened for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We recorded baseline characteristics, non-occupational and occupational risk factors. We used pairwise tests of associations and multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with seropositivity.

Results

Among 4’664 HCW from 23 healthcare facilities, 139 (3%) were seropositive. Non-occupational exposures independently associated with seropositivity were contact with a COVID-19-positive household (adjusted OR=54, 95%-CI: 31-97) and stay in a COVID-19 hotspot (aOR=2.2, 95%-CI: 1.1-3.9). Blood group 0 vs. non-0 (aOR=0.4, 95%-CI: 0.3-0.7), active smoking (aOR=0.5, 95%-CI: 0.3-0.9) and living with children <12 years (aOR=0.3, 95%-CI: 0.2-0.6) were associated with decreased risk. Occupational risk factors were close contact to COVID-19 patients (aOR=2.8, 95%-CI: 1.5-5.5), exposure to COVID-19-positive co-workers (aOR=2.0, 95%-CI: 1.2-3.1), poor knowledge of standard hygiene precautions (aOR=2.0, 95%-CI: 1.3-3.2), and frequent visits to the hospital canteen (aOR=1.9, 95%-CI: 1.2-3.1).

Conclusions

Living with COVID-19-positive households showed by far the strongest association with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. We identified several potentially modifiable risk factors, which might allow mitigation of the COVID-19 risk among HCW. The lower risk among those living with children, even after correction for multiple confounders, is remarkable and merits further study.

Related articles

Related articles are currently not available for this article.