SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Healthcare, First Response, and Public Safety Personnel, Detroit Metropolitan Area, Michigan, USA, May-June 2020

Abstract

To estimate seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among healthcare, first response, and public safety personnel, antibody testing was conducted in emergency medical service agencies and 27 hospitals in the Detroit, Michigan, USA, metropolitan area during May-June 2020. Of 16,403 participants, 6.9% had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. In adjusted analyses, seropositivity was associated with exposure to SARS-CoV-2-positive household members (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 6.18, 95% CI 4.81-7.93) and working within 15 km of Detroit (aOR 5.60, 95% CI 3.98-7.89). Nurse assistants (aOR 1.88, 95% CI 1.24-2.83) and nurses (aOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.18-1.95) had higher likelihood of seropositivity than physicians. Working in a hospital emergency department increased the likelihood of seropositivity (aOR 1.16, 95% CI 1.002-1.35). Consistently using N95 respirators (aOR 0.83, 95% CI 0.72-0.95) and surgical facemasks (aOR 0.86, 95% CI 0.75-0.98) decreased the likelihood of seropositivity.

Keywords: 2019 novel coronavirus disease; COVID-19; Detroit; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus disease; emergency responders; hospitals; personal protective equipment; public safety; seroepidemiologic studies; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viruses; zoonoses.

Figure 1

Seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 among healthcare, first response, and public safety personnel, by hospital and Medical Control Authority agency location, Detroit metropolitan area, Michigan, USA, May–June 2020. Centroid: Detroit city center. Mean SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence within 15 km was 11.0% (red), 15–30 km, 5.5% (orange), and 31–55 km, 1.8% (yellow). Base map source: ESRI ArcGIS map for Province of Ontario and Oakland County, Michigan (https://www.esri.com). SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Figure 2

Seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 among healthcare personnel by selected occupation and hospital work location, Detroit metropolitan area, Michigan, USA, May–June 2020. Red bars: lower 95% CI for percent positive is >6.9% (overall percent positive). Other hospital locations are all other locations not specifically listed in the chart (e.g., radiology, laboratory). Estimates not shown for categories with sample size <25 participants. ED, emergency department; ICU, intensive care unit; OR, operating room; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Figure 3

Adjusted odds ratios and 95% CIs for seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 among healthcare, first response, and public safety personnel, Detroit metropolitan area, Michigan, USA, May–June 2020. Adjusted model was estimated using generalized estimating equations including all variables shown. Participants with other occupations, of other race/ethnicity, or who declined to provide their race/ethnicity are included in the models, but not shown as separate categories. Workplace variables are not mutually exclusive. Reference categories are noted in parentheses for each section. ED, emergency department; EMT, emergency medical technician; HH, household; Med 1st resp, medical first responder; NH, non-Hispanic; PAPR, powered air-purifying respirator; ref., reference; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. *Reference groups for personal protective equipment variables are all other responses with less frequency than “all the time.”