TY - JOUR T1 - COVID-19 in otolaryngologists: a cross-sectional multicenter study JO - Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology (English Edition) T2 - AU - Scapini,Fabrício AU - Lubianca Neto,José Faibes AU - Angeli,Roberto Dihl AU - Krumenauer,Rita Carolina Pozzer AU - Santanna,Ingrid Wendland AU - Oppermann,Luciana Pimentel AU - Atolini Junior,Nedio AU - Meotti,Camila Degen AU - Elias,Caroline Catherine Lacerda AU - Medeiros,Lilcia Helena de Britto AU - Roithmann,Renato AU - Castagno,Clarissa Delpizzo AU - de Carli,Adriana AU - Granzotto,Eduardo Homrich AU - Steffen,Nedio AU - Maahs,Gerson Schulz SN - 18088694 M3 - 10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.06.007 DO - 10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.06.007 UR - http://www.bjorl.org/en-covid-19-in-otolaryngologists-cross-sectional-multicenter-articulo-S1808869421001300 AB - IntroductionThe nose and throat are areas of high viral load, which could place otolaryngologists at an even higher risk for COVID-19 than other health-care workers. ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in otorhinolaryngologists in southern Brazil, its relationship to demographic data, professional practice and reported symptoms of COVID-19, and compare it with official data on other health-care workers of the state and the general population in the same period. MethodsIn this cross-sectional multicenter study, otolaryngologists actively practicing officially registered in Rio Grande do Sul were screened for IgM and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 from August 1 to September 15, 2020. A questionnaire was also applied. ResultsWe screened 358 (80.1%) of 447 actively practicing otolaryngologists (195 [54.5%] male; mean [SD] age, 47.77 [13.57] years; range, 26–84 years). Twenty-three were positive for IgM and/or IgG (6.4%). This result was significantly associated with reports of infected household contacts (19/315 negatives and 8/23 positives; p < 0.001). From 23 seropositive participants, 14 were asymptomatic (60.9%; p < 0.001). There were no significant associations between seroconversion and age, sex, number of patient appointments and surgical procedures, workplace (hospital or private practice), patients with or without respiratory symptoms, or level of personal protective equipment used. The rate of COVID-19 in all health-care workers in the state was 7.69% at the end of the same period. Data from state government seroprevalence was 5.26 (risk ratio [RR]; 95% CI 3.27–8.45) and 4.66 (RR; 95% CI 2.93–7.43) times higher in otolaryngologists than in the general population in August and September, respectively. ConclusionOtolaryngologists had a higher seroconversion rate than the general population. Using personal protective equipment, the level of occupational exposure did not result in higher rates of infection than other health-care workers, but the presence of infected household contacts was associated with higher rates of seroconversion. ER -