SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence and Drug Use in Trauma Patients from Six Sites in the United States

Abstract

In comparison to the general patient population, trauma patients show higher level detections of bloodborne infectious diseases, such as Hepatitis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus. In comparison to bloodborne pathogens, the prevalence of respiratory infections such as SARS-CoV-2 and how that relates with other variables, such as drug usage and trauma type, is currently unknown in trauma populations. Here, we evaluated SARSCoV2 seropositivity and antibody isotype profile in 2,542 trauma patients from six Level 1 trauma centers between April and October of 2020 during the first wave of the COVID19 pandemic. We found that the seroprevalence in trauma victims 18 to 44 years old (9.79%, 95% confidence interval/CI: 8.33 - 11.47) was much higher in comparison to older patients (45-69 years old: 6.03%, 4.59-5.88; 70+ years old: 4.33%, 2.54 - 7.20). Black/African American (9.54%, 7.77 - 11.65) and Hispanic/Latino patients (14.95%, 11.80 - 18.75) also had higher seroprevalence in comparison, respectively, to White (5.72%, 4.62 - 7.05) and Non-Latino patients (6.55%, 5.57 - 7.69). More than half (55.54%) of those tested for drug toxicology had at least one drug present in their system. Those that tested positive for depressants had a significant negative correlation with seropositivity, while those on anti-depressants trended positive. These findings represent an important consideration for both the patients and first responders that treat trauma patients facing potential risk of respiratory infectious diseases like SARSCoV2.

Increases in COVID-19 are unrelated to levels of vaccination across 68 countries and 2947 counties in the United States

“…For instance, in a report released from the Ministry of Health in Israel, the effectiveness of 2 doses of the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine against preventing COVID-19 infection was reported to be 39% [ 6 ], substantially lower than the trial efficacy of 96% [ 7 ]. It is also emerging that immunity derived from the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine may not be as strong as immunity acquired through recovery from the COVID-19 virus [ 8 ].…”

Development of a predictive algorithm for patient survival after traumatic injury using a five analyte blood panel

“…We analyzed 1000 plasma samples collected as a part of a study focused on drug prevalence among trauma victims treated at selected Level 1 trauma centers [10][11][12] and 50 samples from healthy individuals at the NIH. Trauma patient samples came from 5 centers located in Worcester MA, Baltimore MD, Charlotte NC, Jacksonville FL, and Miami FL.…”

“…Clinical study and sample collection proceeded as previously described 7 (See Report No. DOT HS 813 399).…”