Your browser doesn't support javascript.
SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and asymptomatic viral carriage in healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study.
Shields, Adrian; Faustini, Sian E; Perez-Toledo, Marisol; Jossi, Sian; Aldera, Erin; Allen, Joel D; Al-Taei, Saly; Backhouse, Claire; Bosworth, Andrew; Dunbar, Lyndsey A; Ebanks, Daniel; Emmanuel, Beena; Garvey, Mark; Gray, Joanna; Kidd, I Michael; McGinnell, Golaleh; McLoughlin, Dee E; Morley, Gabriella; O'Neill, Joanna; Papakonstantinou, Danai; Pickles, Oliver; Poxon, Charlotte; Richter, Megan; Walker, Eloise M; Wanigasooriya, Kasun; Watanabe, Yasunori; Whalley, Celina; Zielinska, Agnieszka E; Crispin, Max; Wraith, David C; Beggs, Andrew D; Cunningham, Adam F; Drayson, Mark T; Richter, Alex G.
  • Shields A; Clinical Immunology Service, University of Birmingham College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Birmingham, UK.
  • Faustini SE; University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
  • Perez-Toledo M; Clinical Immunology Service, University of Birmingham College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Birmingham, UK.
  • Jossi S; Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
  • Aldera E; Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
  • Allen JD; Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
  • Al-Taei S; School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
  • Backhouse C; Clinical Immunology Service, University of Birmingham College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Birmingham, UK.
  • Bosworth A; Clinical Immunology Service, University of Birmingham College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Birmingham, UK.
  • Dunbar LA; University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
  • Ebanks D; Clinical Immunology Service, University of Birmingham College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Birmingham, UK.
  • Emmanuel B; Clinical Immunology Service, University of Birmingham College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Birmingham, UK.
  • Garvey M; Clinical Immunology Service, University of Birmingham College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Birmingham, UK.
  • Gray J; University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
  • Kidd IM; Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
  • McGinnell G; University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
  • McLoughlin DE; Public Health England Midlands and East Region, Birmingham, UK.
  • Morley G; University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
  • O'Neill J; Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
  • Papakonstantinou D; Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
  • Pickles O; University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
  • Poxon C; Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
  • Richter M; Surgical Research Laboratory, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
  • Walker EM; Surgical Research Laboratory, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
  • Wanigasooriya K; Clinical Immunology Service, University of Birmingham College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Birmingham, UK.
  • Watanabe Y; Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
  • Whalley C; Surgical Research Laboratory, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
  • Zielinska AE; School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
  • Crispin M; Oxford Glycobiology Institute, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
  • Wraith DC; Surgical Research Laboratory, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
  • Beggs AD; Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
  • Cunningham AF; School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
  • Drayson MT; Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
  • Richter AG; University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and University of Birmingham, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Birmingham, UK.
Thorax ; 75(12): 1089-1094, 2020 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-760280
ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the rates of asymptomatic viral carriage and seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in healthcare workers.

DESIGN:

A cross-sectional study of asymptomatic healthcare workers undertaken on 24/25 April 2020.

SETTING:

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHBFT), UK.

PARTICIPANTS:

545 asymptomatic healthcare workers were recruited while at work. Participants were invited to participate via the UHBFT social media. Exclusion criteria included current symptoms consistent with COVID-19. No potential participants were excluded. INTERVENTION Participants volunteered a nasopharyngeal swab and a venous blood sample that were tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein antibodies, respectively. Results were interpreted in the context of prior illnesses and the hospital departments in which participants worked. MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURE:

Proportion of participants demonstrating infection and positive SARS-CoV-2 serology.

RESULTS:

The point prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 viral carriage was 2.4% (n=13/545). The overall seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 24.4% (n=126/516). Participants who reported prior symptomatic illness had higher seroprevalence (37.5% vs 17.1%, χ2=21.1034, p<0.0001) and quantitatively greater antibody responses than those who had remained asymptomatic. Seroprevalence was greatest among those working in housekeeping (34.5%), acute medicine (33.3%) and general internal medicine (30.3%), with lower rates observed in participants working in intensive care (14.8%). BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) ethnicity was associated with a significantly increased risk of seropositivity (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.14 to 3.23, p=0.01). Working on the intensive care unit was associated with a significantly lower risk of seropositivity compared with working in other areas of the hospital (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.78, p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE We identify differences in the occupational risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 between hospital departments and confirm asymptomatic seroconversion occurs in healthcare workers. Further investigation of these observations is required to inform future infection control and occupational health practices.
Subject(s)
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Health Personnel / Asymptomatic Diseases / Pandemics / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 / Antibodies, Viral Type of study: Diagnostic study / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged Language: English Journal: Thorax Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Thoraxjnl-2020-215414

Similar

MEDLINE

...
LILACS

LIS


Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Health Personnel / Asymptomatic Diseases / Pandemics / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 / Antibodies, Viral Type of study: Diagnostic study / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged Language: English Journal: Thorax Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Thoraxjnl-2020-215414