Arlington, Va., April 14, 2022 – A study conducted by researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides the first assessment of reported COVID-19 exposures over time among U.S. healthcare personnel (HCP) during the global pandemic. Findings from the study, published today in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), suggest that HCPs diagnosed with COVID-19 were most likely to be exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in their workplaces as COVID-19 cases increased in their communities, and offer insights for reducing HCP exposures and risk during future outbreaks.
“Previous reports hypothesized that COVID-19 incidence among HCPs was primarily a result of non-occupational exposures, because HCP who lived in communities with higher COVID-19 incidence were more likely to become infected with SARS-CoV-2,” said Rachael M. Billock, PhD, CDC COVID-19 Response Team, and first author on the published study. “Our findings suggest that, particularly during periods of high community incidence of COVID-19, HCP exposures occur both at the workplace and outside of it, with the workplace being a major driver of infections. These results emphasize the continued need for improved infection prevention and control measures in occupational settings, as well as the need for improved surveillance to identify and reduce occupational exposures to SARS-CoV-2 among HCPs and all workers.”
HCPs experienced significant SARS-CoV-2 risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. [1] -3 Through May 2021, 500,000 COVID-19 diagnoses and 1,653 deaths among U.S. HCPs were reported to the CDC, and HCP cases and deaths are known to be undercounted. The study conducted by Dr. Billock and colleagues was designed to identify the settings in which HCPs were exposed to COVID-19 over time, and the relationship between community incidence of COVID-19 and HCP case exposure settings.
Using national, de-identified COVID-19 surveillance data for HCPs diagnosed with COVID-19 who reported COVID-19 exposure between March 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021, the researchers evaluated a range of variables, including exposure setting (healthcare associated/workplace, home, or community), exposure trends over time, the correlation between COVID-19 incidence in communities and HCP exposure setting, and impact of the national vaccination program. Key findings include:
COVID-19 Case Trends Over Time
COVID-19 Exposure Setting
Correlation Between Workplace Exposure and Community Prevalence
Impact of National Vaccination Program
“This study provides important insights to guide infection prevention and control practices in healthcare settings so that we can better protect HCPs and their patients,” said Linda Dickey, RN, MPH, CIC, FAPIC, and 2022 APIC president. “Additionally, it reiterates the importance of collecting data on HCP work-related variables, such as industry, occupation, and workplace exposures, in infectious disease surveillance.”
About APIC
Founded in 1972, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is the leading association for infection preventionists and epidemiologists. With more than 15,000 members, APIC advances the science and practice of infection prevention and control. APIC carries out its mission through research, advocacy, and patient safety; education, credentialing, and certification; and fostering development of the infection prevention and control workforce of the future. Together with our members and partners, we are working toward a safer world through the prevention of infection. Join us and learn more at apic.org .
About AJIC
As the official peer-reviewed journal of APIC, The American Journal of Infection Control ( AJIC ) is the foremost resource on infection control, epidemiology, infectious diseases, quality management, occupational health, and disease prevention. Published by Elsevier , AJIC also publishes infection control guidelines from APIC and the CDC. AJIC is included in Index Medicus and CINAHL. Visit AJIC at ajicjournal.org .
NOTES FOR EDITORS
“Reported exposure trends among healthcare personnel COVID-19 cases, USA, March 2020-March 2021,” by Rachael M. Billock, PhD; Matthew R. Groenewold, PhD; Marie Haring Sweeney, PhD; Marie A. de Perio MD; Denise M. Gaughan ScD; Sara E. Luckhaupt MD, MPH, was published online in AJIC on April 14, 2022. The article may be found online at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2022.01.007
AUTHORS
Rachael M. Billock, PhD (corresponding author: qlf9@cdc.gov )
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Response Team, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Matthew R. Groenewold, PhD
Marie Haring Sweeney, PhD
Marie A. de Perio MD
Denise M. Gaughan ScD
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, USA
Sara E. Luckhaupt MD, MPH
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[1] Sahu AK, Amrithanand VT, Mathew R, Aggarwal P, Nayer J, Bhoi S. COVID-19 in health care workers - a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Emerg Med. 2020;38:1727–1731.
2 Nguyen LH, Drew DA, Graham MS, et al. Risk of COVID-19 among front-line healthcare workers and the general community: a prospective cohort study. Lancet Public Health. 2020;5:e475–e483.
3 United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID data tracker: cases & deaths among healthcare personnel. 2021. Accessed July 12, 2021. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#health-care-personnel.
American Journal of Infection Control
Data/statistical analysis
People
Reported exposure trends among healthcare personnel COVID-19 cases, USA, March 2020-March 2021
14-Apr-2022
The authors report no conflicts of interest.