Using Virus Sequencing to Determine Source of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission for Healthcare Worker

Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Oct;26(10):2489-2491. doi: 10.3201/eid2610.202322. Epub 2020 Aug 6.

Abstract

Whether a healthcare worker's severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is community or hospital acquired affects prevention practices. We used virus sequencing to determine that infection of a healthcare worker who cared for 2 SARS-CoV-2-infected patients was probably community acquired. Appropriate personal protective equipment may have protected against hospital-acquired infection.

Keywords: 2019 novel coronavirus disease; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus disease; healthcare worker; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; transmission; viruses; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus*
  • COVID-19
  • Community-Acquired Infections / virology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / transmission*
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Health Personnel
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / prevention & control*
  • Occupational Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Pandemics
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Pneumonia, Viral / transmission*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • RNA, Viral / analysis*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA

Substances

  • RNA, Viral