Clinical characteristics and humoral immune response in healthcare workers with COVID-19 in a teaching hospital in Belgium.
J Hosp Infect
; 106(4): 713-720, 2020 Dec.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-779260
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of acquiring COVID-19 and could play a role in nosocomial transmission. Since 4th February 2020, Belgian Health authorities reported more than 90,568 cases, of which 8.3% were HCWs. Data on clinical characteristics, sources of infection and humoral immune response of HCWs with COVID-19 remain scarce.AIM:
To analyse the clinical characteristics, humoral immune response, sources of contamination, and outcomes among HCWs with COVID-19.METHODS:
This retrospective study included 176 HCWs with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in a teaching hospital in Belgium. Between 1st March and 31st May 2020, all HCWs with symptoms suspected of COVID-19 were tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction on a nasopharyngeal swab. Serological testing was performed between 55 and 137 days after the onset of symptoms.FINDINGS:
Median age was 40.8 years and 75% were female. Median delay between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 4.39 days. Most frequent symptoms were cough and headache (both 75%). Fever accounted for 68.7%. Most represented professions were nurses (42%). HCWs were mainly infected by patient contact (32.9%); 7.6% required hospitalization and 1.7% were admitted to the intensive care unit. Unfortunately, one HCW died (0.5%). Total antibodies were positive in 109/126 (86.5%).CONCLUSIONS:
Clinical presentation of COVID-19 in HCWs does not differ from the general population. However, outcomes were more favourable with a mortality rate lower than that reported in Belgian COVID-19 patients in general (16%). The main source of infection was the hospital setting. Our positive antibodies rate was high but lower than previously reported.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Health Personnel
/
Immunity, Humoral
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
/
Hospitals, Teaching
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
J Hosp Infect
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.jhin.2020.09.018
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