COVID-19-Infektionsquote im Bau- und Reinigungsgewerbe: bekannte Infektionen und Dunkelziffer. Teil 1 – Männer

Abstract

COVID-19 infection rate in the construction and cleaning industry: known infections and unrecorded cases. Part 1 – men Aim: The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 in the construction industry in Germany, the number of unreported cases (under-recording factor) and whether an increase in risk compared to the general population can be assumed in the construction industry, and to examine the influence of certain possible job-specific risk factors such as the location and nature of the activity on the infection-rate. Methods: We conducted a COVID-19 seroepidemiological study of n = 3,493 men who attended one of the participating occupational health service centres for occupational medical examinations. A questionnaire was also completed by the study participants on living conditions, occupational activity, position in the occupation and known previous infections, among other factors. Results: 3.4% of the men disclosed a previous COVID-19 Infection. Of the n = 3,374 men with no known infection, COVID-19 antibodies were found in n = 84 of the subject group (2.4 % relative to the basic population), hence 5.8 % of the men had a COVID-19 infection. Relative to the known COVID-19 infections, the number of unreported cases of non-diagnosed COVID-19 Infections (under-reporting factor) was thus 70 %. A clear influence of work on construction sites and in the cleaning industry could not be detected. For office work, there were indications of an increased risk of infection. Compared to the general population, it is unlikely that there is an increased risk associated with working on construction sites. The infection rate was lower in smokers than in non-smokers. Conclusion: Given 70 % unreported cases, company doctors, for instance, should use the determination of COVID-19 antibodies in unvaccinated men without a known infection to offer a booster vaccination to them as well as to persons with a known infection. Furthermore, the under-reporting factor, which is not low, indicates that not all people with an infection are successfully recorded, so that compliance with general protective measures is of great importance for containing the pandemic. Keywords: COVID-19 – infection rate – unrecorded cases – construction industry