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Lack of Serologic Evidence of Infection Among Health Care Personnel and Other Contacts of First 2 Confirmed Patients With COVID-19 in Illinois, 2020
- Source :
- Public Health Rep
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Objectives Widespread global transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), continues. Many questions remain about asymptomatic or atypical infections and transmission dynamics. We used comprehensive contact tracing of the first 2 confirmed patients in Illinois with COVID-19 and serologic SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing to determine whether contacts had evidence of undetected COVID-19. Methods Contacts were eligible for serologic follow-up if previously tested for COVID-19 during an initial investigation or had greater-risk exposures. Contacts completed a standardized questionnaire during the initial investigation. We classified exposure risk as high, medium, or low based on interactions with 2 index patients and use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Serologic testing used a SARS-CoV-2 spike enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on serum specimens collected from participants approximately 6 weeks after initial exposure to either index patient. The 2 index patients provided serum specimens throughout their illness. We collected data on demographic, exposure, and epidemiologic characteristics. Results Of 347 contacts, 110 were eligible for serologic follow-up; 59 (17% of all contacts) enrolled. Of these, 53 (90%) were health care personnel and 6 (10%) were community contacts. Seventeen (29%) reported high-risk exposures, 15 (25%) medium-risk, and 27 (46%) low-risk. No participant had evidence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The 2 index patients had antibodies detected at dilutions >1:6400 within 4 weeks after symptom onset. Conclusions In serologic follow-up of the first 2 known patients in Illinois with COVID-19, we found no secondary transmission among tested contacts. Lack of seroconversion among these contacts adds to our understanding of conditions (ie, use of PPE) under which SARS-CoV-2 infections might not result in transmission and demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing is a useful tool to verify epidemiologic findings.
- Subjects :
- Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Health Personnel
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
01 natural sciences
Risk Assessment
Virus
Serology
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
ABO blood group system
Occupational Exposure
Health care
Epidemiology
Pandemic
medicine
Humans
030212 general & internal medicine
0101 mathematics
Intensive care medicine
Pandemics
Personal Protective Equipment
business.industry
Transmission (medicine)
SARS-CoV-2
Research
010102 general mathematics
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
COVID-19
Female
Illinois
Contact Tracing
business
Contact tracing
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14682877
- Volume :
- 136
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974)
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....3492a01cdcc1675e4b618c70e27cbb2c