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. 2024 Oct 9;24(1):2754.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-20274-6.

Predictors of seropositivity to SARS-CoV-2 among employees at a large urban medical center

Deborah Kupferwasser  1   2 , Evelyn A Flores  3 , Prudencio Merino  3 , Donna Phan Tran  3 , Honghu Liu  4   5   6 , Yilan Huang  4   5 , Michael Bolaris  3 , Megan H Nguyen  7 , Mildred Gonzales  8 , Wellington Da Silva  9 , Leslie Astorga-Cook  9 , Angel Abueg  3 , Holli Mason  3 , Loren G Miller  3   6
Affiliations

Predictors of seropositivity to SARS-CoV-2 among employees at a large urban medical center

Deborah Kupferwasser et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Before SARS-CoV-2 vaccination availability, medical center employees were at high risk of COVID-19. However, risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection in medical center employees, both healthcare and non-healthcare workers, are poorly understood.

Methods: From September-December 2020, free IgG antibody testing was offered to all employees at a large urban medical center. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire on work and non-work related risk factors for COVID-19 infection.

Results: SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity was found in 4.7%. Seropositivity was associated with close contact with COVID-19 cases with or without the use of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), (OR 3.1 [95% CI 1.4-6.9] and OR 4.7 [95% CI 2.0-11.0] respectively), never wearing a mask outside of work (OR 10.1 [95% CI 1.9-57]), and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander race (OR 6.3 95% CI (1.6-25)].

Conclusions: Among workers in a large urban medical center, SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity was associated with work-related COVID-19 close contacts and low mask use outside of work, suggesting that non-workplace close contacts are also relevant routes of COVID-19 spread among healthcare workers.

Keywords: Health system workforce; SARS-CoV-2; Seropositivity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

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