Early Results from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing of Healthcare Workers at an Academic Medical Center in New York City

Arielle R Nagler; Eric R Goldberg; Maria E Aguero-Rosenfeld; Joan Cangiarella; Gary Kalkut; Carolyn Rooke Monahan; Robert J Cerfolio

doi:10.1093/cid/ciaa867

Early Results from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing of Healthcare Workers at an Academic Medical Center in New York City

Clin Infect Dis. 2021 Apr 8;72(7):1241-1243. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa867.

Authors

Arielle R Nagler¹, Eric R Goldberg², Maria E Aguero-Rosenfeld³, Joan Cangiarella³, Gary Kalkut², Carolyn Rooke Monahan⁴, Robert J Cerfolio⁵

Affiliations

¹ Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
² Department of Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
³ Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
⁴ Department of Network Integration, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
⁵ Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction employee testing was implemented across New York University Langone Health. Over 8 weeks, 14 764 employees were tested; 33% of symptomatic employees, 8% of asymptomatic employees reporting COVID-19 exposure, and 3% of employees returning to work were positive. Positivity rates declined over time, possibly reflecting the importance of community transmission and efficacy of personal protective equipment.

Keywords: COVID-19; diagnostic testing; occupational health; public health; virology.

MeSH terms

Academic Medical Centers
COVID-19*
Health Personnel
Humans
New York City / epidemiology
Polymerase Chain Reaction
SARS-CoV-2*