Infection with SARS-CoV-2 in primary care health care workers assessed by antibody testing

Abstract

Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused a pandemic threat of public health during the last month causing more than 10 million infections and 500 000 deceased patients worldwide. Nevertheless, data about risk of infection for health care workers are sparse. Methods In a large primary care facility, 151 workers underwent SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) testing. In addition, participants had to complete a survey regarding symptoms and their individual risk of infection. Results Symptoms suspicious for COVID-19 occurred in 72%, fever in 25% of all subjects. Four workers (2.6%, 95% confidence interval 0.8–7.1%) had a positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing. None of these was free from COVID-19 suspicious symptoms. Source of infection was presumably professional in three of four individuals. Conclusion Our systematic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a cohort of health care workers in a large outpatient centre revealed an apparently low rate of 2.6% past SARS-CoV-2 infections. Relative risk for infection following health care profession cannot be derived as data about infection rates in the corresponding general population are lacking.