COVID-19 infections in staff of an emergency care hospital after the first wave of the pandemic in Germany

Stüven, Philipp; Mühlenbruch, Georg; Evenschor-Ascheid, Agnes; Conzen, Ellen; Peters, Claudia; Schablon, Anja; Nienhaus, Albert

doi:10.3205/dgkh000407

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…We recognize that there are significant ramifications of DVTs in COVID-19 patients, but we should also note the occupational hazards that may accompany the mode of diagnosis. Previous studies have demonstrated workplace exposure to be a risk for COVID-19 transmission among healthcare workers and patients 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 . While there are no specific prior articles evaluating the risks of COVID-19 exposure in sonographers, it has been demonstrated that there is an increased risk for transmission for nurses, staff working on COVID units, and those who have high risk exposures 27 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy and safety of sonographer discretion to terminate a venous duplex ultrasound for diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis in coronavirus disease 2019 patients

Chao

Helenowski

et al. 2023

Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy and safety of sonographer discretion to terminate a venous duplex ultrasound for diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis in coronavirus disease 2019 patients

Chao

Helenowski

et al. 2023

Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders

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“…A comparison with other studies in outpatient settings is only possible to a limited extent due to a lack of studies on this occupational group. Although there are numerous studies on health workers worldwide, the focus has mostly been on employees in hospitals who frequently come into contact with infected patients [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There were differences relating to areas of work, with employees in at-risk jobs showing an increased OR of 1.9 (95% CI 1.04–3.5). An increase in occupational infection risk was found even after controlling for non-occupational infection risks [ 20 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Employees in Outpatient Care Services in Hamburg

Schablon

Harth

Terschüren

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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The risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection is particularly high for healthcare workers during the pandemic. Home care workers visit many different households per shift. Encounters with mostly elderly patients and their relatives increase the potential for the undetected spread of SARS-CoV-2. In order to gain insight into the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and possible transmission risks in outpatient care, this follow-up study was conducted with nursing services in Hamburg. The aim was to estimate the dynamics of seroprevalence in this occupational group over a 12-month period, to identify occupation-specific risk factors, and to collect information on the vaccination status of the surveyed nursing staff. Antibody testing for SARS-CoV-2 IgG against the S1 domain (EUROIMUN Analyser I® Lübeck, Germany) was performed on participating healthcare workers with patient contact at a total of four time points within one year from July 2020 to October 2021 (baseline, follow-up after three, six and twelve months). The data were mostly analysed descriptively. Differences in IgG titres were analysed using variance analysis methods, particularly Tukey’s range test. The seroprevalence was 1.2% (8/678) at baseline and 1.5% (9/581) at the three-month follow-up (T1). At the second follow-up (T2) after six months, vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 was available from January 2021 onwards. The prevalence rate of positive IgG antibodies relative to the S1 domain of the spike protein test among unvaccinated individuals was 6.5%. At (T3) after twelve months (July to October 2021), 482 participants were enrolled, and 85.7% of the workers were considered fully vaccinated at this time point, while 51 individuals were unvaccinated. The prevalence was 13.7% (7/51). In our study, a low seroprevalence was found among home care workers, which was lower than in our studies conducted in the clinical setting. Therefore, it can be assumed that the occupational risk of infection is rather low for both the nursing staff and the patients/clients cared for in the outpatient setting. The good provision of protective equipment and the high vaccination rate of the staff probably had a positive influence.

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“…This primary care hospital is located in the vicinity of the Heinsberg district, one of the first hotspots in Germany, North Rhine–Westphalia, and is of particular interest because it was highly affected by the first COVID-19 wave in spring of 2020. A previous study reported a prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 of n = 52 (5.8%) at the RMK [ 18 ]. Clinic staff in all areas were vaccinated depending on priority group and vaccine availability provisioned by the federal and state ministries of health.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coronavirus Vaccination: Spike Antibody Levels in Health Workers after Six Months—A Cross-Sectional Study

Damerau

Mühlenbruch

Evenschor-Ascheid

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Healthcare workers bear a high risk of infection during epidemics and pandemics such as the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Various new vaccines have been approved. We investigated the influence of the time elapsed since vaccination, as well as of vaccination schema, on health workers’ spike antibody levels following their second vaccination. Blood samples were obtained from employees working at a German hospital between August 2021 and December 2021 on average half a year (range 130–280 days) after their second vaccination. Levels of SARS-CoV-2-IgG antibodies (spike and nucleocapsid protein) were qualitatively detected via chemiluminescent immunoassays (CLIAs). A previous infection with SARS-CoV-2 was an exclusion criterion. In total, 545 persons were included in this cross-sectional study. Most participants (97.8%) showed elevated anti-spike concentrations. Anti-spike levels differed significantly among vaccination schemas. Repeated vector vaccinations resulted in lower protective antibody levels. Higher age levels, immunosuppression and a longer time period since the second vaccination resulted in lower anti-spike levels. Women’s antibody levels were higher, but not significantly. Since anti-spike levels drop after vaccination, further boosters are required to increase immunoreactivity. If two vector vaccines have been administered, it is possible that an mRNA booster might increase the anti-spike level.

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COVID-19 infections in staff of an emergency care hospital after the first wave of the pandemic in Germany

Cited by 5 publications

References 13 publications

Efficacy and safety of sonographer discretion to terminate a venous duplex ultrasound for diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis in coronavirus disease 2019 patients

Efficacy and safety of sonographer discretion to terminate a venous duplex ultrasound for diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis in coronavirus disease 2019 patients

Longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Employees in Outpatient Care Services in Hamburg

Coronavirus Vaccination: Spike Antibody Levels in Health Workers after Six Months—A Cross-Sectional Study

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