Increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in staff working across different care homes enchanced CoVID-19 outbreak investigations in London care Homes



Ladhani, Shamez N, Chow, J Yimmy, Janarthanan, Roshni, Fok, Jonathan, Crawley-Boevey, Emma, Vusirikala, Amoolya, Fernandez, Elena, Perez, Marina Sanchez, Tang, Suzanne, Dun-Campbell, Kate
et al (show 20 more authors) (2020) Increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in staff working across different care homes enchanced CoVID-19 outbreak investigations in London care Homes. Journal of Infection, 81 (4). pp. 621-624.

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Abstract

<h4>Background</h4>Care homes have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to suffer large outbreaks even when community infection rates are declining, thus representing important pockets of transmission. We assessed occupational risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among staff in six care homes experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak during the peak of the pandemic in London, England.<h4>Methods</h4>Care home staff were tested for SARS-COV-2 infection by RT-PCR and asked to report any symptoms, their contact with residents and if they worked in different care homes. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on RT-PCR positive samples.<h4>Results</h4>In total, 53 (21%) of 254 staff were SARS-CoV-2 positive but only 12/53 (23%) were symptomatic. Among staff working in a single care home, SARS-CoV-2 positivity was 15% (2/13), 16% (7/45) and 18% (30/169) in those reporting no, occasional and regular contact with residents. In contrast, staff working across different care homes (14/27, 52%) had a 3.0-fold (95% CI, 1.9-4.8; P<0.001) higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 positivity than staff working in single care homes (39/227, 17%). WGS identified SARS-CoV-2 clusters involving staff only, including some that included staff working across different care homes.<h4>Conclusions</h4>SARS-CoV-2 positivity was significantly higher among staff working across different care homes than those who were working in the same care home. We found local clusters of SARS-CoV-2 infection between staff only, including those with minimal resident contact. Infection control should be extended for all contact, including those between staff, whilst on care home premises.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: London Care Home Investigation Team, Humans, Pneumonia, Viral, Coronavirus Infections, Occupational Exposure, Infection Control, Genome, Viral, Medical Staff, Homes for the Aged, Nursing Homes, London, England, Pandemics, Whole Genome Sequencing, Betacoronavirus, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 02 Sep 2020 10:05
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2024 00:37
DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.07.027
Open Access URL: http://10.0.3.248/j.jinf.2020.07.027
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3099119