COVID-19: Investigation of Transmission and Immunisation Among Hospital Staff

Conditions

COVID

Brief summary

During the COVID-19 pandemic several countries have seen a high risk of transmission for health care personnel, with some countries having as many 20-25% of nurses and doctors either infected or showing symptoms of COVID-19. In this prospective cohort study, we will systematically screen all hospital staff in the Capital Region of Denmark for IgM and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 using a point of care tests and an Elisa kit. Testing will be offered 3 times: In April 2020, Maj 2020 and September 2020. All participants will submit a questionnaire regarding exposures, risk factors and symptoms of COVID-19 in relation to each testing. Follow-up will be through electronic patient records and national registries. We will compare the group of health care personnel with data from a control group of healthy volunteer blood donors from the Danish Blood Donor Study. The aim of the study is to investigate the proportion of hospital staff with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies during the study period compared to a control group representing the Danish population. We will compare the test characteristics of the two methods of testing, a point of care test and Elisa. Further, we will investigate the extent to which prior immunization or infection is protective for future infection with COVID-19.

Iversen K, Kristensen JH, Hasselbalch RB, Pries-Heje M, Nielsen PB, Knudsen AD, Fogh K, Norsk JB, Andersen O, Fischer TK, Juul Jensen CA, Torp-Pedersen C, Rungby J, Ditlev SB, Hageman I, Møgelvang R, Gybel-Brask M, Dessau RB, Sørensen E, Harritshøj L, Folke F, Sten C, Engel Møller ME, Benfield T, Ullum H, Jørgensen CS, Erikstrup C, Ostrowski SR, Nielsen SD, Bundgaard H.

2021-09-1713 citations

10.1016/j.cmi.2021.09.005

Risk of COVID-19 in health-care workers in Denmark: an observational cohort study.

Iversen K, Bundgaard H, Hasselbalch RB, Kristensen JH, Nielsen PB, Pries-Heje M, Knudsen AD, Christensen CE, Fogh K, Norsk JB, Andersen O, Fischer TK, Jensen CAJ, Larsen M, Torp-Pedersen C, Rungby J, Ditlev SB, Hageman I, Møgelvang R, Hother CE, Gybel-Brask M, Sørensen E, Harritshøj L, Folke F, Sten C, Benfield T, Nielsen SD, Ullum H.

2020-08-03312 citations

10.1016/s1473-3099(20)30589-2

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TESTIgM and IgG diagnostic kits to SARS-CoV-2

Diagnostic kits for IgM/IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2

DIAGNOSTIC_TESTElisa-test for IgM and IgG to SARS-CoV-2

Elisa-test for IgM and IgG to SARS-CoV-2

Study design

Observational model

COHORT

Time perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Inclusion criteria

* \>18 years old * Consent to participation * Employed at a Hospital in the Capitial Region of Denmark

Exclusion criteria

* None

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Positive IgM/IgG tests	At inclusion	Proportion of hospital staff who have a positive IgM/IgG tests for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 on point of care test and/or Elisa compared to the background population
Comparison of the point of care test and Elisa	At inclusion	Comparison of the resultat from the point of care test and with results from Elisa
Re-infection rate	180 days	Number of patients, who were tested positive for antibodies on an earlier test and later are infected with COVID-19
IgM/IgG positive participants on follow-up test	1 month	Proportion of IgM/IgG positive participants with a lasting immune response. This will be the participants who are still positive on follow-up

Countries

Denmark

Outcome results

None listed