Longitudinal assessment of SARS-CoV-2 IgG seroconversionamong front-line healthcare workers during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic at a tertiary-care hospital in Chile.
BMC Infect Dis
; 21(1): 478, 2021 May 26.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34039287
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Cross-sectional studies have provided variable rates of seroprevalence in HCWs. Longitudinal assessments of the serological response to Covid-19 among HCWs are crucial to understanding the risk of infection and changes in antibody titers over time. We aimed to investigate seroprevalence and risk factors associated with seroconversion in a prospective cohort of HCWs during the peak of the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.METHODS:
We conducted a longitudinal study among 446 front-line HCWsin a tertiary-care hospital in Chile from April to July 2020. IgG was determined monthly using two different ELISAs in serum samples of HCWs, during the three-month period. In each visit, demographic data, symptoms, risk factors, and exposure risks were also assessed.RESULTS:
The overall seroprevalence at the end of the study period was 24% (95% CI20.2-28.3), with 43% of seropositive HCWs reporting no prior symptoms. Seroconversion rates significantly differed over the study period, from 2.1% to as high as 8.8% at the peak of the epidemic. There were no statistically significant differences observed between HCWs in direct clinical care of patients with Covid-19 and those working in low risk areas. Antibody titers appeared to wane over time.CONCLUSIONS:
HCWs were severely affected with a high rate of seroconversion that appeared to mirror the local epidemiological situation. A significant amount of participants underwent an asymptomatic infection, highlighting the need for improved surveillance policies. Antibody titers appear to wane over time; further studies to understand this finding's impact on the risk of reinfection are warranted.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Immunoglobulin G
/
Health Personnel
/
Seroconversion
/
COVID-19 Serological Testing
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
/
Antibodies, Viral
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Incidence_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
America do sul
/
Chile
Language:
En
Journal:
BMC Infect Dis
Journal subject:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Chile