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Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among firefighters/paramedics of a US fire department: a cross-sectional study
- Source :
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- ObjectivesWe estimate the point seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the frontline firefighter/paramedic workforce of a South Florida fire department located in the epicentre of a State outbreak.MethodsA cross-sectional study design was used to estimate the point seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using a rapid immunoglobulin (Ig)M-IgG combined point-of-care lateral flow immunoassay among frontline firefighters/paramedics collected over a 2-day period, 16–17 April 2020. Fire department personnel were emailed a survey link assessing COVID-19 symptoms and work exposures the day prior to the scheduled drive-through antibody testing at a designated fire station. Off-duty and on-duty firefighter/paramedic personnel drove through the fire station/training facility in their personal vehicles or on-duty engine/rescue trucks for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing.ResultsAmong the 203 firefighters/paramedics that make up the fire department workforce, 18 firefighters/paramedics (8.9%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, of which 8 firefighters/paramedics (3.9%) were IgG positive only, 8 (3.9%) were IgM positive only and 2 (0.1%) were IgG/IgM positive. The positive predictive value (PPV) of the serological test is estimated to be 33.2% and the negative predictive value is 99.3%. The average number of COVID-19 case contacts (ie, within 6 feet of an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or probable COVID-19 patient) for ≥15 min) experienced by firefighters/paramedics was higher for those with positive serology compared with those with negative (13.3 cases vs 7.31 cases; p=0.022). None of the antibody positive firefighters/paramedics reported receipt of the annual influenza vaccine compared with firefighters/paramedics who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (0.0% vs 21.0%; p=0.027).ConclusionRapid SARS-CoV-2 IgM-IgG antibody testing documented early-stage and late-stage infection in a firefighter workforce providing insight to a broader medical surveillance project on return to work for firefighters/paramedics. Given the relatively low PPV of the serological test used in this study back in April 2020, caution should be used in interpreting test results.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
Medical surveillance
medicine.medical_specialty
Influenza vaccine
Cross-sectional study
Pneumonia, Viral
Allied Health Personnel
Antibodies, Viral
Occupational safety and health
Serology
Disease Outbreaks
03 medical and health sciences
Betacoronavirus
Young Adult
0302 clinical medicine
COVID-19 Testing
Risk Factors
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Occupational Exposure
Epidemiology
Prevalence
Medicine
Seroprevalence
Humans
030212 general & internal medicine
Workplace
Pandemics
business.industry
Clinical Laboratory Techniques
SARS-CoV-2
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
COVID-19
Middle Aged
030210 environmental & occupational health
Cross-Sectional Studies
Immunoglobulin M
Influenza Vaccines
Firefighters
Immunoglobulin G
Population Surveillance
Workforce
Emergency medicine
Florida
Female
business
Coronavirus Infections
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14707926
- Volume :
- 77
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Occupational and environmental medicine
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....42850034623ffd23aff5fef8eab1630f