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

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\u2009=\u20090.07). The proportion of HCWs with a viral load\u2009>\u20095.0 log10 cp/mL (Ct value\u2009<\u200925) was less than 15% at 8 days after symptom onset; 12% of HCWs were positive after 40 days (Ct\u2009>\u200937). More than 90% of cultivable virus had a viral load\u2009>\u20094.5 log10 cp/mL (Ct\u2009<\u200926) 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.