COVID-19 exposure risk for family members of healthcare workers: An observational study

• Main Authors: Dioscoridi Lorenzo, Chiara Carrisi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2020-09-01
• Series: International Journal of Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: COVID-19; SARS-COV-2; Infection of healthcare workers; Rapid serological test
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971220305415

Background: Many publications have considered the exposure risk to COVID-19 of the general population and healthcare workers. However, no available papers have discussed the risk of exposure by family members of health care workers. Aims: The present study collected data on SARS-COV-2 positive family members (FM) of health care workers (HW) using serological rapid IgM/IgG tests (SRT), compared to positive HWs on SRT and serological quantitative IgG tests (SQT). Methods: The study was conducted from May 2 to 31, 2020. Thirty-eight HWs were tested by both SRT and SQT; 81 FMs were screened using SRT. Descriptive statistical analyses were used to summarize the data. Results: Of the 38 HWs, two (5,3%) showed an IgG line on SRT, confirmed by SQT. Thirty-two HWs decided on self-isolation from the family during the SARS-COV-2 spread. Out of 81 FMs, 26 (32,1%) were found IgG positive on SRT. Eleven (42%) of them had symptoms typical for COVID-19, during the study period. In two families, the HWs were the only negative cases. Conclusions: The general population's exposure to COVID-19 is less controlled than that of HWs. HWs experienced a lower infection rate than their families and did not represent a main transmission risk for relatives.