Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 Antibody Seropositivity among Healthcare Workers Working in Coronavirus Disease Wards
Year: 2021
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) involved in the care of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are at risk of being infected.This study aimed to investigate the seropositivity of SARS-CoV-2 among the HCWs.Methods: From June to July 2020, 151 serum samples of HCWs involved in the care of COV-ID-19 patients from two hospitals in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, were collected to test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies.Epidemiologic data were collected using a questionnaire.Results: Among the 151 HCWs, 3 (2.0%) had detectable SARS-CoV-2 IgG.Two of them were nurses working in the COVID-19 ward of the first hospital and had no direct contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients without personal protective equipment (PPE).The other HCW worked at the infection prevention office and was 6 weeks pregnant at the time of the study.In this study, 19 participants self-reported 33 episodes of contamination during PPE removal, but none of them tested positive.Conclusion: This study reported a seropositivity rate of 2.0% for SARS-CoV-2 IgG among HCWs.Following the exclusion of an HCW with a suspected false-positive result, the adjusted rate was 1.3%, which was higher than that reported at approximately the same time in the community (0.07%).However, there was no evidence of viral transmission among the colleagues of that HCW in this study.Standard precautions, proper monitoring, and PPE use could help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in hospital settings.
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funder: Pusan National University
OpenAlex ID: W3176181687