SARS-CoV-2 infection in mortuary and cemetery workers

SARS-CoV-2 infection in mortuary and cemetery workers

Blog Article

Background: Mortuary and cemetery workers may be exposed to the bodies of people with SARS-CoV-2 infection; however, prevalence of infection among these groups is unknown.Methods: Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) for RT-PCR and serologic testing for SARS-CoV-2 were performed on mortuary and cemetery workers in Qatar.Data on specific job duties, living conditions, contact history, and clinical course were gathered.Environmental sampling was carried Saddle Riggings » Backriggings out to explore any association with infection.Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with infection.

Results: Forty-seven mortuary workers provided an NPS and seven (14.9%) were PCR positive; 32 provided a blood sample and eight (25%) were antibody positive, six (75%) who were seropositive were also PCR positive.Among the 81 cemetery workers, 76 provided an NPS and five (6.6%) were PCR positive; 64 provided a blood sample and 22 (34.4%) were antibody positive, three (13.

6%) who were seropositive were also PCR positive.Three (22.2%) and 20 (83.3%) of the infected mortuary and ESTER-C 250MG ORANGE cemetery workers were asymptomatic, respectively.Age 35.

Conclusion: A substantial proportion of mortuary and cemetery workers had evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which was incidentally detected upon serologic testing.These data are most consistent with community acquisition rather than occupational acquisition.