OBJECTIVES: Widespread global transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), continues. Many questions remain about asymptomatic or atypical infections and transmission dynamics. We used comprehensive contact tracing of the first 2 confirmed patients in Illinois with COVID-19 and serologic SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing to determine whether contacts had evidence of undetected COVID-19. METHODS: Contacts were eligible for serologic follow-up if previously tested for COVID-19 during an initial investigation or had greater-risk exposures. Contacts completed a standardized questionnaire during the initial investigation. We classified exposure risk as high, medium, or low based on interactions with 2 index patients and use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Serologic testing used a SARS-CoV-2 spike enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on serum specimens collected from participants approximately 6 weeks after initial exposure to either index patient. The 2 index patients provided serum specimens throughout their illness. We collected data on demographic, exposure, and epidemiologic characteristics. RESULTS: Of 347 contacts, 110 were eligible for serologic follow-up; 59 (17% of all contacts) enrolled. Of these, 53 (90%) were health care personnel and 6 (10%) were community contacts. Seventeen (29%) reported high-risk exposures, 15 (25%) medium-risk, and 27 (46%) low-risk. No participant had evidence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The 2 index patients had antibodies detected at dilutions >1:6400 within 4 weeks after symptom onset. CONCLUSIONS: In serologic follow-up of the first 2 known patients in Illinois with COVID-19, we found no secondary transmission among tested contacts. Lack of seroconversion among these contacts adds to our understanding of conditions (ie, use of PPE) under which SARS-CoV-2 infections might not result in transmission and demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing is a useful tool to verify epidemiologic findings.
OBJECTIVES: Widespread global transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), continues. Many questions remain about asymptomatic or atypical infections and transmission dynamics. We used comprehensive contact tracing of the first 2 confirmed patients in Illinois with COVID-19 and serologic SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing to determine whether contacts had evidence of undetected COVID-19. METHODS: Contacts were eligible for serologic follow-up if previously tested for COVID-19 during an initial investigation or had greater-risk exposures. Contacts completed a standardized questionnaire during the initial investigation. We classified exposure risk as high, medium, or low based on interactions with 2 index patients and use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Serologic testing used a SARS-CoV-2 spike enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on serum specimens collected from participants approximately 6 weeks after initial exposure to either index patient. The 2 index patients provided serum specimens throughout their illness. We collected data on demographic, exposure, and epidemiologic characteristics. RESULTS: Of 347 contacts, 110 were eligible for serologic follow-up; 59 (17% of all contacts) enrolled. Of these, 53 (90%) were health care personnel and 6 (10%) were community contacts. Seventeen (29%) reported high-risk exposures, 15 (25%) medium-risk, and 27 (46%) low-risk. No participant had evidence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The 2 index patients had antibodies detected at dilutions >1:6400 within 4 weeks after symptom onset. CONCLUSIONS: In serologic follow-up of the first 2 known patients in Illinois with COVID-19, we found no secondary transmission among tested contacts. Lack of seroconversion among these contacts adds to our understanding of conditions (ie, use of PPE) under which SARS-CoV-2 infections might not result in transmission and demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing is a useful tool to verify epidemiologic findings.
Authors: Eric J Chow; Noah G Schwartz; Farrell A Tobolowsky; Rachael L T Zacks; Melinda Huntington-Frazier; Sujan C Reddy; Agam K Rao Journal: JAMA Date: 2020-05-26 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Dennis K M Ip; Lincoln L H Lau; Nancy H L Leung; Vicky J Fang; Kwok-Hung Chan; Daniel K W Chu; Gabriel M Leung; J S Malik Peiris; Timothy M Uyeki; Benjamin J Cowling Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2017-03-15 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: Wycliffe E Wei; Zongbin Li; Calvin J Chiew; Sarah E Yong; Matthias P Toh; Vernon J Lee Journal: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep Date: 2020-04-10 Impact factor: 17.586
Authors: Anne Kimball; Kelly M Hatfield; Melissa Arons; Allison James; Joanne Taylor; Kevin Spicer; Ana C Bardossy; Lisa P Oakley; Sukarma Tanwar; Zeshan Chisty; Jeneita M Bell; Mark Methner; Josh Harney; Jesica R Jacobs; Christina M Carlson; Heather P McLaughlin; Nimalie Stone; Shauna Clark; Claire Brostrom-Smith; Libby C Page; Meagan Kay; James Lewis; Denny Russell; Brian Hiatt; Jessica Gant; Jeffrey S Duchin; Thomas A Clark; Margaret A Honein; Sujan C Reddy; John A Jernigan Journal: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep Date: 2020-04-03 Impact factor: 17.586
Authors: Isaac Ghinai; Tristan D McPherson; Jennifer C Hunter; Hannah L Kirking; Demian Christiansen; Kiran Joshi; Rachel Rubin; Shirley Morales-Estrada; Stephanie R Black; Massimo Pacilli; Marielle J Fricchione; Rashmi K Chugh; Kelly A Walblay; N Seema Ahmed; William C Stoecker; Nausheen F Hasan; Deborah P Burdsall; Heather E Reese; Megan Wallace; Chen Wang; Darcie Moeller; Jacqueline Korpics; Shannon A Novosad; Isaac Benowitz; Max W Jacobs; Vishal S Dasari; Megan T Patel; Judy Kauerauf; E Matt Charles; Ngozi O Ezike; Victoria Chu; Claire M Midgley; Melissa A Rolfes; Susan I Gerber; Xiaoyan Lu; Stephen Lindstrom; Jennifer R Verani; Jennifer E Layden Journal: Lancet Date: 2020-03-13 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Leah F Moriarty; Mateusz M Plucinski; Barbara J Marston; Ekaterina V Kurbatova; Barbara Knust; Erin L Murray; Nicki Pesik; Dale Rose; David Fitter; Miwako Kobayashi; Mitsuru Toda; Paul T Cantey; Tara Scheuer; Eric S Halsey; Nicole J Cohen; Lauren Stockman; Debra A Wadford; Alexandra M Medley; Gary Green; Joanna J Regan; Kara Tardivel; Stefanie White; Clive Brown; Christina Morales; Cynthia Yen; Beth Wittry; Amy Freeland; Sara Naramore; Ryan T Novak; David Daigle; Michelle Weinberg; Anna Acosta; Carolyn Herzig; Bryan K Kapella; Kathleen R Jacobson; Katherine Lamba; Atsuyoshi Ishizumi; John Sarisky; Erik Svendsen; Tricia Blocher; Christine Wu; Julia Charles; Riley Wagner; Andrea Stewart; Paul S Mead; Elizabeth Kurylo; Stefanie Campbell; Rachel Murray; Paul Weidle; Martin Cetron; Cindy R Friedman Journal: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep Date: 2020-03-27 Impact factor: 17.586