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Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Healthcare Workers of a German COVID-19 Treatment Center

Author

Listed:
  • Lionel Larribère

    (Cancer Center Heilbronn-Franken, SLK Clinics Heilbronn GmbH, 74078 Heilbronn, Germany)

  • Jelizaveta Gordejeva

    (GECKO Institute for Medicine, Informatics and Economics, Hochschule Heilbronn, 74081 Heilbronn, Germany)

  • Lisa Kuhnhenn

    (Institute of Laboratory Medicine, SLK Clinics Heilbronn GmbH, 74078 Heilbronn, Germany)

  • Maximilian Kurscheidt

    (GECKO Institute for Medicine, Informatics and Economics, Hochschule Heilbronn, 74081 Heilbronn, Germany)

  • Monika Pobiruchin

    (GECKO Institute for Medicine, Informatics and Economics, Hochschule Heilbronn, 74081 Heilbronn, Germany)

  • Dilyana Vladimirova

    (Cancer Center Heilbronn-Franken, SLK Clinics Heilbronn GmbH, 74078 Heilbronn, Germany)

  • Maria Martin

    (Institute for Infection Prevention and Clinical Hygiene, SLK Clinics Heilbronn GmbH, 74078 Heilbronn, Germany)

  • Markus Roser

    (Institute of Laboratory Medicine, SLK Clinics Heilbronn GmbH, 74078 Heilbronn, Germany)

  • Wendelin Schramm

    (GECKO Institute for Medicine, Informatics and Economics, Hochschule Heilbronn, 74081 Heilbronn, Germany)

  • Uwe M. Martens

    (Cancer Center Heilbronn-Franken, SLK Clinics Heilbronn GmbH, 74078 Heilbronn, Germany)

  • Tatjana Eigenbrod

    (Institute of Laboratory Medicine, SLK Clinics Heilbronn GmbH, 74078 Heilbronn, Germany)

Abstract

To date, more than 160 million people have been infected with COVID-19 worldwide. In the present study, we investigated the history of SARS-CoV-2 infection among 3067 healthcare workers (HCW) in a German COVID-19 treatment center during the early phase of the pandemic (July 2020) based on the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and self-reported previous PCR results. The results demonstrate a low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection ( n = 107 [3.5%]) with no increased risk for employees with a high level of patient exposure in general or working in COVID-19-confined areas in particular. This suggests that the local hygiene standards implemented in our hospital during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic were effective in preventing patient-to-HCW transmission. No evidence for highly mobile staff serving as a vector for SARS-CoV-2 transmission could be found. In addition, impairment of smell and/or taste was strongly associated with SARS-CoV-2 history.

Suggested Citation

  • Lionel Larribère & Jelizaveta Gordejeva & Lisa Kuhnhenn & Maximilian Kurscheidt & Monika Pobiruchin & Dilyana Vladimirova & Maria Martin & Markus Roser & Wendelin Schramm & Uwe M. Martens & Tatjana Ei, 2021. "Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Healthcare Workers of a German COVID-19 Treatment Center," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-11, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:13:p:7057-:d:587064
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    References listed on IDEAS

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