Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Among Coworkers in a Surgical Environment

Abstract

Health care workers are at high risk for contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, little is known about the risk of transmission between coworkers. The objective of this study was to determine the risk of transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) between coworkers in a surgical environment. This was an observational study of 394 health care workers in a surgical environment who were exposed to 2 known SARS-CoV-2–positive coworkers. Standard infection precautions were in place at the time of the exposure. All 394 exposed workers initially underwent nasopharyngeal swab testing for SARS-CoV-2 using the polymerase chain reaction technique. Of the original group, 387 were tested again with the same technique 1 week later. Of 394 SARS-CoV-2–exposed health care workers initially tested, 1 was positive. No new positive cases were found on repeated testing of 387 participants 1 week later. The risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a health care unit with universal masking and appropriate hand hygiene is low. This should provide some reassurance to surgical practices as they reopen.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in healthcare workers in a surgical environment

“…Mayo Clinic Hospital (Jacksonville, Florida, USA) is a 304-bed hospital that provides services for most adult surgical specialties, with 17 651 procedures performed in 2019. All surgical personnel who participated in a previous study evaluating COVID-19 transmission risk 4 were invited to undergo SARS-CoV-2 IgG serum antibody testing. A total of 394 participants were tested from 11 to 25 May 2020.…”

Safety of Three-Dimensional versus Two-Dimensional Laparoscopic Hysterectomy during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The little available data show that the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a surgical healthcare unit with universal masking and appropriate hand hygiene is low [ 29 ]. In this cohort of healthcare workers, the antibody positivity rate was also low and consistent with community rates [ 30 ].…”

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in a Multistate Academic Medical Center

“…Mayo Clinic also adopted precautions including universal masking requirements for HCP early in the pandemic which may have contributed to the reduced prevalence of past infection in all HCP, including those in Florida and Arizona where community transmission was increased during the study period. 8 The presence of anti-spike IgG antibodies in a person could have important implications for vaccination policies. Early in the pandemic, there was considerable uncertainty with respect to the association of seroprevalence to longer-term immunity.…”