TY - JOUR AU - Erber, Johanna AU - Kappler, Verena AU - Haller, Bernhard AU - Mijočević, Hrvoje AU - Galhoz, Ana AU - Prazeres da Costa, Clarissa AU - Gebhardt, Friedemann AU - Graf, Natalia AU - Hoffmann, Dieter AU - Thaler, Markus AU - Lorenz, Elke AU - Roggendorf, Hedwig AU - Kohlmayer, Florian AU - Henkel, Andreas AU - Menden, Michael AU - Ruland, Jürgen AU - Spinner, Christoph AU - Protzer, Ulrike AU - Knolle, Percy AU - Lingor, Paul T1 - Infection Control Measures and Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG among 4,554 University Hospital Employees, Munich, Germany T2 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal PY - 2022 VL - 28 IS - 3 SP - 572 SN - 1080-6059 AB - Hospital staff are at high risk for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospital staff at the University Hospital rechts der Isar in Munich, Germany, and identify modulating factors. Overall seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2-IgG in 4,554 participants was 2.4%. Staff engaged in direct patient care, including those working in COVID-19 units, had a similar probability of being seropositive as non–patient-facing staff. Increased probability of infection was observed in staff reporting interactions with SARS-CoV-2‒infected coworkers or private contacts or exposure to COVID-19 patients without appropriate personal protective equipment. Analysis of spatiotemporal trajectories identified that distinct hotspots for SARS-CoV-2‒positive staff and patients only partially overlap. Patient-facing work in a healthcare facility during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic might be safe as long as adequate personal protective equipment is used and infection prevention practices are followed inside and outside the hospital KW - COVID-19 KW - coronavirus disease KW - severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 KW - SARS-CoV-2 KW - coronaviruses KW - viruses KW - respiratory infections KW - strategies KW - infection control measures KW - IgG KW - antibodies KW - university hospital employees KW - seroprevalence KW - healthcare workers KW - zoonoses KW - Munich KW - Germany DO - 10.3201/eid2803.204436 UR - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/28/3/20-4436_article ER - End of Reference