499 - Infection with Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Personnel with Exposure to COVID-19

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Presenting Author(s)

Minji Kang

Assistant Professor
University of Texas Southwestern
Dallas, Texas
Disclosure: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.

Co-Author(s)

CG

Christopher Granda

Resident
University of California San Diego
San Diego, California
Disclosure: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
FT

Francesca J. Torriani

Professor of Clinical Medicine
University of California, San Diego School of Medicine
San Diego, California
Disclosure: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
RT

Randy Taplitz

Professor
University of California San Diego
San Diego, California
Disclosure: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
FM

Frank Myers

Director of Infection Prevention
University of California San Diego
San Diego, California
Disclosure: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
MI

Marcia Isakari

Physician Diplomat Senior
University of California San Diego
San Diego, California
Disclosure: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
SA

Shira R. Abeles

Assistant Professor of Medicine
UC San Diego Health
San Diego, California
Disclosure: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.

Background: As of June 2, 2020, 67,113 cases and 321 deaths due to Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) have been reported in healthcare personnel (HCP) in the United States. Given the close contact of HCP with individuals with COVID-19, it is important to quantify the risk of acquiring COVID-19 in the healthcare setting.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of HCP exposed to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at our academic medical center from March 15, 2020 to May 16, 2020. Exposure during the study period was defined as having contact with patients or other HCP with COVID-19 within 6 feet of distance for at least 90 seconds when HCP’s eyes, nose, or mouth were not covered. HCP with exposures were monitored for symptoms consistent with COVID-19 for 14 days from last exposure and those who developed symptoms were tested for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR.

Results: We identified 33 exposure events; 19 of which were patient-to-HCP exposures and 14 of which were HCP-to-HCP exposures. These 33 events resulted in 959 exposed HCP among whom 238 (25%) developed one or more symptoms of COVID-19 and required SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing. Testing was performed at 7.1 ± 5.0 (mean ± SD) days from exposure. Of the 238 HCP who were tested, 82% were female and 49% were registered nurses (Table 1). Five HCP tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR, but one was presumed to have acquired the disease from a household member with confirmed COVID-19. Among the four HCP who were infected due to occupational exposure, three were nurses while one was an environmental service worker (Table 1). Table 1. Demographics and Job Titles of Healthcare Personnel Who Developed Symptoms and Were Tested for SARS-CoV-2 after a Known Occupational Exposure to Coronavirus Disease 2019

Conclusion: Despite exposures among HCP, the risk of acquiring symptomatic COVID-19 in the healthcare setting was low with less than 1% of HCP with occupational exposure subsequently diagnosed with COVID-19. With the definition of exposure now changed to at least 15 minutes of close contact without personal protective equipment, we anticipate fewer exposures at our healthcare facility and that much of COVID-19 transmission affecting HCP are due to community exposures.