Evolution of Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Seroprevalence Among Employees of a US Academic Children’s Hospital During Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

Authors

Brian T Fisher
Anna Sharova
Craig L K Boge
Sigrid Gouma
Audrey Kamrin
Jesse Blumenstock
Sydney Shuster
Lauren Gianchetti
Danielle Collins
Elikplim Akaho
Madison E Weirick
Christopher M McAllister
Marcus J Bolton
Claudia P Arevalo
Eileen C Goodwin
Elizabeth M Anderson
Shannon R Christensen
Fran Balamuth
Audrey R Odom John
Yun Li
Susan Coffin
Jeffrey S Gerber
Scott E Hensley

Language

English

Publication Date

11-1-2022

Journal

Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology

DOI

10.1017/ice.2021.487

PMID

34852866

PMCID

PMC8668398

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

12-2-2021

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

Objective: To describe the cumulative seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic among employees of a large pediatric healthcare system.

Design, setting, and participants: Prospective observational cohort study open to adult employees at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, conducted April 20-December 17, 2020.

Methods: Employees were recruited starting with high-risk exposure groups, utilizing e-mails, flyers, and announcements at virtual town hall meetings. At baseline, 1 month, 2 months, and 6 months, participants reported occupational and community exposures and gave a blood sample for SARS-CoV-2 antibody measurement by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). A post hoc Cox proportional hazards regression model was performed to identify factors associated with increased risk for seropositivity.

Results: In total, 1,740 employees were enrolled. At 6 months, the cumulative seroprevalence was 5.3%, which was below estimated community point seroprevalence. Seroprevalence was 5.8% among employees who provided direct care and was 3.4% among employees who did not perform direct patient care. Most participants who were seropositive at baseline remained positive at follow-up assessments. In a post hoc analysis, direct patient care (hazard ratio [HR], 1.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-3.68), Black race (HR, 2.70; 95% CI, 1.24-5.87), and exposure to a confirmed case in a nonhealthcare setting (HR, 4.32; 95% CI, 2.71-6.88) were associated with statistically significant increased risk for seropositivity.

Conclusions: Employee SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence rates remained below the point-prevalence rates of the surrounding community. Provision of direct patient care, Black race, and exposure to a confirmed case in a nonhealthcare setting conferred increased risk. These data can inform occupational protection measures to maximize protection of employees within the workplace during future COVID-19 waves or other epidemics.

Keywords

Adult, Humans, Child, Pandemics, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Prospective Studies, Virus Diseases, Hospitals, Pediatric, Antibodies, Viral, Health Personnel

Published Open-Access

yes

Recommended Citation

Fisher, Brian T; Sharova, Anna; Boge, Craig L K; et al., "Evolution of Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Seroprevalence Among Employees of a US Academic Children’s Hospital During Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic" (2022). Staff and Researcher Publications. 36.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/clinic_pub/36