Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in previously undiagnosed health care workers in New Jersey, at the onset of the U.S. COVID-19 pandemic.

摘要: Healthcare workers (HCW) are presumed to be at increased risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection due occupational exposure infected patients. However, there has been little epidemiological research assess these risks. We conducted a prospective cohort study HCW (n = 546) and non-healthcare (NHCW; n = 283) with no known prior SARS-CoV-2 who were recruited from large U.S. university two affiliated hospitals. In this cross-sectional analysis data collected baseline, we examined status (as determined by presence RNA in oropharyngeal swabs) healthcare worker role. At 41 (5.0%) the participants tested positive for infection, whom 14 (34.2%) reported symptoms. The prevalence was higher among (7.3%) than NHCW (0.4%), representing 7.0% greater absolute (95% confidence interval difference 4.7, 9.3%). majority (62.5%) nurses. Positive tests across weeks recruitment line rising confirmed cases hospitals surrounding counties. Overall, our results demonstrate that had NHCW. Continued follow-up will enable us monitor rates examine factors transmission.