Laboratory test results and computed tomography findings in health care professionals with COVID-19

To assess the intensity, characteristics, and distribution of computed tomography (CT) findings of pulmonary involvement, as well as to evaluate laboratory test results, in health care professionals who were exposed to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study based on the analysis of laboratory test results and chest CT images of health care workers with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Data for the period from March 2020 to December 2022 were collected from two hospitals in Brazil.

We identified 1,091 health care professionals in whom a RT-PCR was positive for SARS-CoV-2. However, only 38 of those individuals underwent chest CT. Of the 38 individuals evaluated, 89.5% were treated at one of the hospitals and 57.9% were male. The mean age was 55.6 years. The most common finding (in 100% of the cases) was ground-glass opacity, followed by septal thickening (in 31.6%) and consolidation (in 23.7%). Pulmonary involvement was multifocal in 76.3% and predominantly subpleural in 71.0%. The extent of the involvement was classified as mild in 24% of the cases, moderate in 47%, and severe in 29%. The most commonly affected lung region (in 60.7% of cases) was the lower lobes, particularly the right posterior basal segmental bronchus (segment B10).

For evaluating lung involvement, CT was essential, aiding in postinfection monitoring and in the early management of complications. Among the health care professionals evaluated, moderate involvement predominated.