IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i4p2429-d753693.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Cumulative Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 in Healthcare Workers at a General Hospital in Germany during the Pandemic—A Longitudinal Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Martin Platten

    (Laboratory Dr. Wisplinghoff, 50931 Cologne, Germany)

  • Albert Nienhaus

    (Competence Center for Epidemiology and Health Services Research for Healthcare Professionals (CVcare), Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20246 Hamburg, Germany
    Department for Occupational Medicine, Hazardous Substances and Health Sciences (AGG), Institution for Statutory Accident Insurance in the Health and Welfare Services (BGW), 22089 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Claudia Peters

    (Competence Center for Epidemiology and Health Services Research for Healthcare Professionals (CVcare), Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20246 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Rita Cranen

    (Occupational Medicine, St. Antonius Hospital Eschweiler, 52249 Eschweiler, Germany)

  • Hilmar Wisplinghoff

    (Laboratory Dr. Wisplinghoff, 50931 Cologne, Germany
    Institute for Virology and Clinical Microbiology, University of Witten/Herdecke, 58448 Witten, Germany)

  • Jan Felix Kersten

    (Competence Center for Epidemiology and Health Services Research for Healthcare Professionals (CVcare), Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20246 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Alexander Daniel Bach

    (Clinic for Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, St. Antonius Hospital Eschweiler, 52249 Eschweiler, Germany)

  • Guido Michels

    (Clinic for Acute and Emergency Medicine, St. Antonius Hospital Eschweiler, 52249 Eschweiler, Germany)

Abstract

Health workers (HW) are at increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. In order to monitor the infection dynamic on the basis of contact with patients, HW at the St. Antonius Hospital (SAH) were tested four times in one year by PCR and serology. The cumulative incidence of infection in HW was calculated. Swab and blood tests were simultaneously performed between April 2020 and April 2021. Risk factors and demographic information were assessed at the beginning of the study. The response rate was above 75% in all rounds of testing. The study comprised 1506 HW, 165 (10.6%) of which tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Working in an ICU or on wards with patient contact were risk factors (OR 4.4, 95% CI 1.73–13.6 and OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.27–8.49). At the end of the study, the majority of HW (810 of 1363 (59.4%)) had been vaccinated at least once. A total of 29.1% of unvaccinated HW and 5.3% of vaccinated HW showed an immune response typical for natural SARS-CoV-2 infection. Of the 73 HW who provided information on the course of the disease, 31.5% reported that their quality of life continued to be impaired. The cumulative incidence of infection was low in these HW, which may be attributed to vaccination and good hygiene. Nevertheless, a work-related infection risk was identified, highlighting the need to improve protection against infection. A high risk of developing long COVID was found after the infection has subsided. Special rehabilitation programs should be provided and HW should be compensated for reduced work capacity in the case that rehabilitation fails or takes a long time.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Platten & Albert Nienhaus & Claudia Peters & Rita Cranen & Hilmar Wisplinghoff & Jan Felix Kersten & Alexander Daniel Bach & Guido Michels, 2022. "Cumulative Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 in Healthcare Workers at a General Hospital in Germany during the Pandemic—A Longitudinal Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-14, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:4:p:2429-:d:753693
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/4/2429/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/4/2429/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stephanie Hoffmann & Juliane Schiebel & Frank Hufert & Heinz-Detlef Gremmels & Jacob Spallek, 2021. "COVID-19 among Healthcare Workers: A Prospective Serological-Epidemiological Cohort Study in a Standard Care Hospital in Rural Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-8, October.
    2. Agnessa Kozak & Albert Nienhaus, 2021. "COVID-19 Vaccination: Status and Willingness to Be Vaccinated among Employees in Health and Welfare Care in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-14, June.
    3. Ziyad Al-Aly & Yan Xie & Benjamin Bowe, 2021. "High-dimensional characterization of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19," Nature, Nature, vol. 594(7862), pages 259-264, June.
    4. Chiara Airoldi & Filippo Patrucco & Fulvia Milano & Daniela Alessi & Andrea Sarro & Maicol Andrea Rossi & Tiziana Cena & Silvio Borrè & Fabrizio Faggiano, 2021. "High Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among Healthcare Workers in a North Italy Hospital," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-11, March.
    5. Jonas Herzberg & Tanja Vollmer & Bastian Fischer & Heiko Becher & Ann-Kristin Becker & Hany Sahly & Human Honarpisheh & Salman Yousuf Guraya & Tim Strate & Cornelius Knabbe, 2021. "Half-Year Longitudinal Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2-Antibodies and Rule Compliance in German Hospital Employees," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-11, October.
    6. Roland Diel & Norbert Hittel & Albert Nienhaus, 2021. "Point-of-Care COVID-19 Antigen Testing in Exposed German Healthcare Workers—A Cost Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-13, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Albert Nienhaus & Johanna Stranzinger & Agnessa Kozak, 2023. "COVID-19 as an Occupational Disease—Temporal Trends in the Number and Severity of Claims in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-9, January.
    2. Anja Schablon & Volker Harth & Claudia Terschüren & Olaf Kleinmüller & Claudia Wohlert & Claudia Schnabel & Thomas Theo Brehm & Julian Schulze zur Wiesch & Jan Felix Kersten & Albert Nienhaus, 2023. "Longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Employees in Outpatient Care Services in Hamburg," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-12, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Anke Hildebrandt & Oktay Hökelekli & Lutz Uflacker & Henrik Rudolf & Michael Paulussen & Sören G. Gatermann, 2022. "Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Employees of Three Hospitals of a Secondary Care Hospital Network in Germany and an Associated Fire Brigade: Results of a Repeated Cross-Sectional Surveillan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-15, February.
    2. Albert Nienhaus, 2021. "COVID-19 among Health Workers in Germany—An Update," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-10, August.
    3. Figueiredo, Bernardo & Sheahan, Jacob & Luo, Shiqi & Bird, Stephen & Wong Lit Wan, Dawn & Xenos, Sophia & Itsiopoulos, Catherine & Jessup, Rebecca & Zheng, Zhen, 2024. "Journey mapping long COVID: Agency and social support for long-hauling," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 340(C).
    4. Ainur T. Tauekelova & Zhanar Kalila & Akerke Bakhtiyar & Zarina Sautbayeva & Polina Len & Aliya Sailybayeva & Sadyk Khamitov & Nazira Kadroldinova & Natasha S. Barteneva & Makhabbat S. Bekbossynova, 2023. "Association of Lung Fibrotic Changes and Cardiological Dysfunction with Comorbidities in Long COVID-19 Cohort," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-18, January.
    5. Vanessa Bertuzzi & Michelle Semonella & Gianluca Castelnuovo & Gerhard Andersson & Giada Pietrabissa, 2022. "Synthesizing Stakeholders Perspectives on Online Psychological Interventions to Improve the Mental Health of the Italian Population during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Online Survey Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-13, June.
    6. Daphne Bussink-Voorend & Jeannine L. A. Hautvast & Lisa Vandeberg & Olga Visser & Marlies E. J. L. Hulscher, 2022. "A systematic literature review to clarify the concept of vaccine hesitancy," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 6(12), pages 1634-1648, December.
    7. Yunhe Wang & Binbin Su & Marta Alcalde-Herraiz & Nicola L. Barclay & Yaohua Tian & Chunxiao Li & Nicholas J. Wareham & Roger Paredes & Junqing Xie & Daniel Prieto-Alhambra, 2024. "Modifiable lifestyle factors and the risk of post-COVID-19 multisystem sequelae, hospitalization, and death," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    8. Michal Matuszewski & Yurii Reznikov & Michal Pruc & Frank W. Peacock & Alla Navolokina & Raúl Júarez-Vela & Lukasz Jankowski & Zubaid Rafique & Lukasz Szarpak, 2022. "Prognostic Performance of Cystatin C in COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-10, November.
    9. Ladislav Štěpánek & Magdaléna Janošíková & Marie Nakládalová & Kateřina Ivanová & Jakub Macík & Alena Boriková & Helena Vildová, 2021. "Motivation for COVID-19 Vaccination in Priority Occupational Groups: A Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-8, November.
    10. Elisabeth Rohwer & Natascha Mojtahedzadeh & Felix Alexander Neumann & Albert Nienhaus & Matthias Augustin & Volker Harth & Birgit-Christiane Zyriax & Stefanie Mache, 2021. "The Role of Health Literacy among Outpatient Caregivers during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-25, November.
    11. Luca Coppeta & Cristiana Ferrari & Andrea Mazza & Marco Trabucco Aurilio & Stefano Rizza, 2021. "Factors Associated with Pre-Vaccination SARS-CoV-2 Infection Risk among Hospital Nurses Facing COVID-19 Outbreak," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-7, December.
    12. Stefania Paduano & Pasquale Galante & Nausicaa Berselli & Luca Ugolotti & Alberto Modenese & Alessandro Poggi & Marcella Malavolti & Sara Turchi & Isabella Marchesi & Roberto Vivoli & Paola Perlini & , 2022. "Seroprevalence Survey of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in a Population of Emilia-Romagna Region, Northern Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-11, June.
    13. Igor Costa de Lima & Daniel Carvalho de Menezes & Juliana Hiromi Emin Uesugi & Cléa Nazaré Carneiro Bichara & Pedro Fernando da Costa Vasconcelos & Juarez Antônio Simões Quaresma & Luiz Fábio Magno Fa, 2023. "Liver Function in Patients with Long-Term Coronavirus Disease 2019 of up to 20 Months: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-11, March.
    14. Ivan Chun Hang Lam & Ran Zhang & Kenneth Keng Cheung Man & Carlos King Ho Wong & Celine Sze Ling Chui & Francisco Tsz Tsun Lai & Xue Li & Esther Wai Yin Chan & Chak Sing Lau & Ian Chi Kei Wong & Eric , 2024. "Persistence in risk and effect of COVID-19 vaccination on long-term health consequences after SARS-CoV-2 infection," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    15. Ngqabutho Moyo & Anita D. Bhappu & Moment Bhebhe & Farai Ncube, 2022. "Perceived Risk of COVID-19 and Employee Decision-Making: How Psychological Distress during the Pandemic Increases Negative Performance Outcomes among Healthcare Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-16, June.
    16. Evan Xu & Yan Xie & Ziyad Al-Aly, 2023. "Long-term gastrointestinal outcomes of COVID-19," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    17. Yueli Mei & Xiuyun Guo & Zhihao Chen & Yingzhi Chen, 2022. "An Effective Mechanism for the Early Detection and Containment of Healthcare Worker Infections in the Setting of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-20, May.
    18. Chengxi Zang & Yongkang Zhang & Jie Xu & Jiang Bian & Dmitry Morozyuk & Edward J. Schenck & Dhruv Khullar & Anna S. Nordvig & Elizabeth A. Shenkman & Russell L. Rothman & Jason P. Block & Kristin Lyma, 2023. "Data-driven analysis to understand long COVID using electronic health records from the RECOVER initiative," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    19. André Santa Cruz & Ana Mendes-Frias & Marne Azarias-da-Silva & Sónia André & Ana Isabel Oliveira & Olga Pires & Marta Mendes & Bárbara Oliveira & Marta Braga & Joana Rita Lopes & Rui Domingues & Ricar, 2023. "Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 is characterized by diminished peripheral CD8+β7 integrin+ T cells and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA response," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    20. Fu, Hongqiao & Cheng, Terence C. & Zhan, Jiajia & Xu, Duo & Yip, Winnie, 2024. "Dynamic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the demand for telemedicine services: Evidence from China," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 531-557.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:4:p:2429-:d:753693. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.