Time to a Negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR Predicts Delayed Return to Work After Medical Leave in COVID-19 Infected Health Care Workers

Villarreal, Jaime; Nieto, Sandra Valeria; Vázquez, Fabián; Campo, M Teresa Del; Mahillo, Ignacio; de la Hoz, Rafael E

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether health care workers' (HCWs) return to work (RTW) after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was associated with time to a negative viral detection test. METHODS: To evaluate the association of return to work (RTW) with an undetectable RT-PCR adjusting for different factors. RESULTS: 375 HCWs who required medical leave for COVID-19 at a hospital in Madrid. Multivariable analyses confirmed the association of delayed RTW with interval to negative PCR (ORadj 1.12, 95% CI 1.08, 1.17) as well as age, sex, and nursing staff and clinical support services compared to physicians. A predictive model based on those variables is proposed, which had an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.82. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed RTW was associated with longer interval to a negative RT-PCR after symptom onset, adjusting for occupational category, age, and sex.