Nasopharyngeal carriage of SARS-CoV-2 among health personnel with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 in a University Hospital in the Paris suburbs

• Published in: La revue de medecine interne 2020-08, Vol.41 (8), p.510-516
• Main Authors: Greffe, S, Espinasse, F, Duran, C, Labrune, S, Sirol, M, Mantalvan, B, Gramer, M C, Babulle, C, Do Rosario, G, Vauvillier, Q, Huet, A, Van der Heidjen, A, Tysebaert, J, Kramarz, L F, Rabes, J-P, Pellissier, G, Chinet, T, Moreau, F, Rouveix, E
• Format: Article
• Language: fre
• Subjects: Betacoronavirus - isolation & purification; Carrier State; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Coronavirus Infections - diagnosis; COVID-19; COVID-19 Testing; Health Personnel; Hospitals, University; Humans; Nasal Cavity - virology; Pandemics; Paris; Pneumonia, Viral; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Risk Factors; SARS-CoV-2
• ISSN: 1768-3122
• DOI: 10.1016/j.revmed.2020.06.017

A consultation dedicated to symptomatic health professionals was opened at the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic in order to meet the specific needs of this population. The objective of this work was to estimate the frequency of SARS-Cov-2 nasopharyngeal carriage in symptomatic healthcare workers suspected of having COVID-19 and to determine the factors associated with this carriage. Of the 522 consultants, 308 worked in the Hospital and 214 outside. They had mild forms of COVID-19 and non-specific clinical signs with the exception of agueusia/anosmia, which was significantly more common in those with positive RT-PCR. The rate of RT-PCR positivity was 38% overall, without significant difference according to profession. It was higher among external consultants (47% versus 31%). In the hospital, this rate was significantly lower for symptomatic staff in the care sectors, compared to staff in the technical platforms and laboratories (24%, versus 45%, p = 0.006 and 54%, respectively, p