COVID-19 infections in HCWs exposed to patient with delayed diagnosis

Editor's Note

In this study, researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, examine the risk in healthcare workers (HCWs) exposed to a 79-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with COVID-19 on day 13 of hospitalization.

A total of 44 HCWs were exposed to the patient before contract and droplet precautions were implemented. The median cumulative time spent with the patient was 45 minutes.

Of the 44 exposed, eight developed symptoms, of whom three tested positive for COVID-19. The remaining 36 HCWs did not develop symptoms—29 were tested, and all were negative.

Of the three who tested positive, one also was exposed to a household member with confirmed COVID-19. The household member shared a room with the employee and developed symptoms before the employee. Therefore, this employee’s infection was attributed to the household member.

The other two had no known COVID-19 contacts outside of the workplace, and, therefore, the net impression of the researchers was that two of 43 exposed HCWs developed COVID-19 (4.7%).

The researchers note that their experience with this instance of delayed diagnosis because of an atypical presentation suggests the potential value of testing all patients for COVID-19 if they require hospital admission.