Risk Factors for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection among Healthcare Personnel

• Main Authors: Basem M. Alraddadi, Hanadi S. Al-Salmi, Kara Jacobs-Slifka, Rachel B. Slayton, Concepcion F. Estivariz, Andrew I. Geller, Hanan H. Al-Turkistani, Sanaa S. Al-Rehily, Haleema A. Alserehi, Ghassan Y. Wali, Abeer N. Alshukairi, Esam I. Azhar, Lia M. Haynes, David L. Swerdlow, John A. Jernigan, Tariq A. Madani
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2016-11-01
• Series: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: Risk factors; MERS-CoV; Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus; healthcare personnel; healthcare workers; personal protective equipment
• Online Access: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/22/11/16-0920_article

Healthcare settings can amplify transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), but knowledge gaps about the epidemiology of transmission remain. We conducted a retrospective cohort study among healthcare personnel in hospital units that treated MERS-CoV patients. Participants were interviewed about exposures to MERS-CoV patients, use of personal protective equipment, and signs and symptoms of illness after exposure. Infection status was determined by the presence of antibodies against MERS-CoV. To assess risk factors, we compared infected and uninfected participants. Healthcare personnel caring for MERS-CoV patients were at high risk for infection, but infection most often resulted in a relatively mild illness that might be unrecognized. In the healthcare personnel cohort reported here, infections occurred exclusively among those who had close contact with MERS-CoV patients.