SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance as an evidence-based infection control approach in an offshore petroleum employee population

•Genomic surveillance was used by Industrial Hygienists to understand SARS-CoV-2 transmissions in an employee population that worked on oil and gas platforms located in the Gulf of Mexico.•Over six months, three transmission clusters were identified involving 22 individuals. 27 infections were unrel...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of infection control 2022-09, Vol.50 (9), p.1013-1019
Main Authors: Lamers, Susanna L., Nolan, David J., LaFleur, Tessa M., Lain, Benjamin N., Moot, Samual R., Huston, Christopher R., Neilsen, Chad D., Feehan, Amy K., Miele, Lucio, Rose, Rebecca
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
COVID-19
COVID-19 - epidemiology
COVID-19 - prevention & control
Epidemiology
Genomics
Humans
Industrial hygiene
Infection Control
Major
Petroleum
Phylogeny
SARS-CoV-2 - genetics
Whole genome sequencing
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Summary:•Genomic surveillance was used by Industrial Hygienists to understand SARS-CoV-2 transmissions in an employee population that worked on oil and gas platforms located in the Gulf of Mexico.•Over six months, three transmission clusters were identified involving 22 individuals. 27 infections were unrelated and were identified prior to offshore deployment.•Our findings support that IH quarantine/testing protocols limited viral transmissions, halted offshore outbreaks, and stopped the spread of a variant of interest.•The study demonstrates how genomic data can be used to evaluate safety protocols in the offshore oil and gas industry. Industrial hygienists (IH) in the oil and gas business instituted an extraordinary number of safety protocols to limit spread of SARS-CoV-2 onto offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. We used genomic surveillance to provide actionable information concerning the efficacy of their efforts. Over 6 months, employees at a single company were serology and PCR tested during a 1-5 day predeployment quarantine and when postdeployment symptoms were reported. From each positive test (n = 49), SARS-CoV-2 genomes were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis was used to investigate the epidemiology of transmissions. Genomic surveillance confirmed 2 viral strains were infecting 18 offshore workers. Genomic data combined with epidemiological data suggested that a change in quarantine protocols contributed to these outbreaks. A pre-deployment outbreak involved a WHO variant of interest (Theta) that had infected 4 international workers. Two additional predeployment clusters of infections were identified. Our findings support that IH quarantine/testing protocols limited viral transmissions, halted offshore outbreaks, and stopped the spread of a variant of interest. The study demonstrates how genomic data can be used to understand viral transmission dynamics in employee populations and evaluate safety protocols in the offshore oil and gas industry.
ISSN:0196-6553
1527-3296
DOI:10.1016/j.ajic.2022.05.008