key: cord-318205-qxkel0ww
authors: Parkulo, Mark A.; Brinker, Todd M.; Bosch, Wendelyn; Palaj, Arta; DeRuyter, Marie L.
title: Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Among Coworkers in a Surgical Environment
date: 2020-10-22
journal: Mayo Clin Proc
DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.10.016
sha: 
doc_id: 318205
cord_uid: qxkel0ww

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.

Infections of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) among health care workers is a serious consequence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Of the COVID-19 cases reported to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between February 12 and April 9, 2020, that contained information about workers, 19% were identified as health care personnel. Most were never hospitalized, but 27 deaths were reported. 1 Many health care workers have reportedly become ill with the virus, but data on the risk of infection from other coworkers are limited. 2, 3 Here we report the outcome of a widespread surveillance program in a surgical area which was implemented as a result of health care workers testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 at Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida. At the time of the study, standard precautions for a surgical environment were in place, and N95 masks or powered airpurifying respirators were only to be used for patients with known or suspected COVID- 

Mayo Clinic Hospital is a medium-sized (304-bed) hospital in Jacksonville, (Table 1 ).

Employee Health determined that 394 other employees worked in the surgical area at the same time as the index cases, and all were recommended to undergo SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing as surveillance. None refused. The CDC Risk Assessment Levels for most personnel, including the 2 index cases, were designated as "unknown" (n=40) or "not available" (n=347); 5 employees were categorized as "high risk" because of extensive exposure to the index cases, and 4 were designated "low risk." These employees spanned multiple departments and work roles ( Table 2) . Of the 394 employees initially tested, 393 were negative, and 1 was positive (positive surveillance case, in the "unknown" risk category). Results were available for all within 24 hours.

Further review of the positive surveillance case showed that symptom onset was on March 18, 12 days before the confirmatory PCR test (Table 1) . No potential community exposure was identified, and it was determined to be an unknown exposure. No new positive cases were identified. Of 7 employees who did not complete subsequent testing, 2 were determined not to be exposed and 5 did not complete testing. Of the 5 employees who did not complete subsequent testing, 4 were not placed in quarantine, did not report symptoms, and did not receive further PCR or serologic testing. The other employee was placed in isolation on April 3 because of reported symptoms of headache, sinus congestion, postnasal drip, and cough on April 2. Review of work history showed that this employee had contact with index case 1 on March 27. This employee's symptoms were improving on April 5. The employee was confirmed symptom free on April 9 and was cleared to return to work starting April 10 because the initial test was negative and it had been 14 days since the exposure date. No further PCR or serologic testing was performed.

Of the 394 employees tested in the surveillance program, 8 were placed in isolation for 14 days because of symptoms, and 17 without symptoms were placed in quarantine for 14 days because of high risk of exposure or recent travel.

An interesting aspect of this study is the discovery that the surveillance case had symptoms that predated those of the index cases and was working in the surgical area more extensively than either of the index cases during a time of potential infectivity.

Because no definitive source of infection was identified for index case 2, it is possible that they were exposed to the surveillance case. More robust contact tracing, potentially through the use of real-time location monitoring systems, may have been able to make a stronger case for that scenario. Real-time monitoring systems with rapid information about contacts also may have decreased the number of personnel requiring testing. 4 J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f anosmia as a symptom. This was not a recognized symptom at the time of the study but has since been added as a symptom associated with COVID-19. 5 At the time of the study, the institution was using the CDC test-based strategy for return to work. This strategy has since been abandoned in most circumstances because of long periods of positivity that most likely are not indicative of ongoing infectivity. 5 Support for this point in our study is that the surveillance case continued to test positive for almost 8 weeks after the onset of symptoms. 6

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed considerable strain on the health care workforce, and many health care workers are at risk for contracting the disease. 7, 8 This study, strengthened by excellent participant compliance and follow-up, shows that the risk of contracting the disease from coworkers in a low-prevalence environment (in the community and the institution) with standard precautions is very low. Of note, even though standard precautions were in place, surgical mask use was very prevalent in this area as part of standard precautions. Although this study is limited by being performed at a single location with low prevalence of overall disease in the community and the hospital at the time of the surveillance, it should provide some reassurance to health care workers as hospitals and other medical establishments pursue reopening practices to patients. The results could also potentially be extrapolated to nonsurgical areas with the adoption of universal masking protocols at most institutions.

J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f Abbreviations: APP, advanced practice provider; CRNA, certified registered nurse anesthetist.

Characteristics of health care personnel with COVID-19: United States

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in previously undiagnosed health care workers at the onset of the US COVID-19 epidemic. medRxiv

Doctors and healthcare workers at frontline of COVID 19 epidemic: admiration, a pat on the back, and need for extreme caution

Use of a real-time locating system for contact tracing of health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic at an infectious disease center in Singapore: validation study

US Department of Health and Human Services. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): symptoms of coronavirus

We thank the Mayo Clinic in Florida COVID Testing Center team: Luanne