Scientific Reports (Jul 2021)

Clinical and laboratory characteristics of symptomatic healthcare workers with suspected COVID-19: a prospective cohort study

  • Antonin Bal,
  • Karen Brengel-Pesce,
  • Alexandre Gaymard,
  • Grégory Quéromès,
  • Nicolas Guibert,
  • Emile Frobert,
  • Maude Bouscambert,
  • Mary-Anne Trabaud,
  • Florence Allantaz-Frager,
  • Guy Oriol,
  • Valérie Cheynet,
  • Constance d’Aubarede,
  • Amélie Massardier-Pilonchery,
  • Marlyse Buisson,
  • Julien Lupo,
  • Bruno Pozzetto,
  • Pascal Poignard,
  • Bruno Lina,
  • Jean-Baptiste Fassier,
  • Florence Morfin,
  • Sophie Trouillet-Assant,
  • COVID-SER Study group

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93828-y
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Abstract A comprehensive clinical and microbiological assessments of COVID-19 in front-line healthcare workers (HCWs) is needed. Between April 10th and May 28th, 2020, 319 HCWs with acute illness were reviewed. In addition to SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR screening, a multiplex molecular panel was used for testing other respiratory pathogens. For SARS-CoV-2 positive HCWs, the normalized viral load, viral culture, and virus neutralization assays were performed weekly. For SARS-CoV-2 negative HCWs, SARS-CoV-2 serological testing was performed one month after inclusion. Among the 319 HCWs included, 67 (21.0%) were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2; 65/67 (97.0%) developed mild form of COVID-19. Other respiratory pathogens were found in 6/66 (9.1%) SARS-CoV-2 positive and 47/241 (19.5%) SARS-Cov-2 negative HCWs (p = 0.07). The proportion of HCWs with a viral load > 5.0 log10 cp/mL (Ct value 37). More than 90% of cultivable virus had a viral load > 4.5 log10 cp/mL (Ct < 26) and were collected within 10 days after symptom onset. Among negative HCWs, 6/190 (3.2%) seroconverted. Our data suggest that the determination of viral load can be used for appreciating the infectiousness of infected HCWs. These data could be helpful for facilitating their return to work.