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The New York City metropolitan area emerged as an epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent population study showed a prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies of 21% in New York City and 17% in Long Island. However, the prevalence among healthcare workers in this area is unknown. In this study, researchers sought to determine the prevalence of antibodies among healthcare workers by widespread screening for SARS-CoV-2 exposure at a 364-bed hospital in Roslyn, N.Y. (a Long Island community near New York City), where personal protective equipment (PPE) use was based on CDC guidelines.
During March and April 2020, symptomatic employees underwent nasopharyngeal testing for the virus, and all employees were offered antibody testing. Of 3046 employees (mean age, 43), 56% underwent antibody testing, and 10% of those tested employees were positive for antibodies. No significant differences by sex, ethnicity, job title, or job area existed between those who were untested or who tested negative and those who tested positive. This seroprevalence was significantly lower than that of the Long Island general public (17%).
Jeremias A et al. Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among health care workers in a tertiary community hospital. JAMA Intern Med 2020 Aug 11; [e-pub]. (https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.4214)
Comment
In this study, the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection was substantially lower among healthcare workers than among the general public in Long Island. The authors conclude that, because hospital healthcare workers “are exposed to a much higher density of the virus,” the results provide strong evidence for the effectiveness of PPE use according to CDC guidelines.