Publication Date
4-19-2021
Keywords
COVID-19, antibody, echocardiography, stress testing, SARS-CoV-2, seroprevalence
Abstract
Purpose: Transesophageal echocardiography is an aerosol-generating procedure, and exercise stress testing is a potentially aerosol-generating activity. Concern has been raised about heightened risk of transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among health care personnel participating in these procedures. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of past coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in echocardiography and stress laboratory staff.
Methods: All staff who worked in the echocardiography and stress laboratories of one high-traffic urban hospital from March 15, 2020, to June 15, 2020, were asked to voluntarily participate. Those willing to participate were consented, and past COVID-19 infection was confirmed by a SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody test (ARCHITECT, Abbott Laboratories) from June 15, 2020, to July 3, 2020. Clinical data were collected from the electronic medical record, and self-reported symptoms were documented with a participant survey.
Results: A total of 43 staff members (86.0% of 50 total laboratory staff) participated. A majority of participants were less than 40 years old (69.8%), were White (86.0%), and were women (79.1%); mean body mass index was 24.9 ± 4.7 kg/m2. Of the 43 staff members tested for past COVID-19 infection, 3 (7.0%) had a positive SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody result. There were no unique features in the 3 SARS-CoV-2 antibody-positive subjects; of these, 2 had known prior COVID-19 infection and 1 was asymptomatic.
Conclusions: This study provides clinical data on the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody in echocardiography and stress laboratory staff who regularly participate in a variety of procedures that are or may be aerosol-generating.
Recommended Citation
Jain R, Kroboth S, Ignatowski D, Khandheria BK. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody in echocardiography and stress laboratory. J Patient Cent Res Rev. 2021;8:146-50. doi: 10.17294/2330-0698.1815
Included in
Cardiology Commons, Cardiovascular Diseases Commons, Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Diagnosis Commons, Epidemiology Commons, Infectious Disease Commons, Other Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons, Patient Safety Commons
Submitted
October 15th, 2020
Accepted
December 15th, 2020
