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Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among health care workers in a country with low burden of COVID-19

Citation:

Psichogiou M, Karabinis A, Pavlopoulou ID, Basoulis D, Petsios K, Roussos S, Pratikaki M, Jahaj E, Protopapas K, Leontis K, et al. Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among health care workers in a country with low burden of COVID-19. PLoS OnePLoS OnePLoS One. 2020;15:e0243025.

Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: Greece is a country with limited spread of SARS-CoV-2 and cumulative infection attack rate of 0.12% (95% CI 0.06-0.26). Health care workers (HCWs) are a well-recognized risk group for COVID-19. The study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in a nosocomial setting and assess potential risk factors. METHODS: HCWs from two hospitals participated in the study. Hospital-1 was a tertiary university affiliated center, involved in the care of COVID-19 patients while hospital-2 was a tertiary specialized cardiac surgery center not involved in the care of these patients. A validated, CE, rapid, IgM/IgG antibody point-of-care test was used. Comparative performance with a reference globally available assay was assessed. RESULTS: 1,495 individuals consented to participate (response rate 77%). The anti-SARS-CoV-2 weighted prevalence was 1.26% (95% CI 0.43, 3.26) overall and 0.53% (95% CI 0.06, 2.78) and 2.70% (95% CI 0.57, 9.19) in hospital-1 and hospital-2, respectively although the study was underpowered to detect statistically significant differences. The overall, hospital-1, and hospital-2 seroprevalence was 10, 4 and 22 times higher than the estimated infection attack rate in general population, respectively. Suboptimal use of personal protective equipment was noted in both hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: These data have implications for the preparedness of a second wave of COVID-19 epidemic, given the low burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection rate, in concordance with national projections.

Notes:

1932-6203Psichogiou, MinaOrcid: 0000-0002-3000-8447Karabinis, AndreasPavlopoulou, Ioanna DOrcid: 0000-0003-0607-8266Basoulis, DimitriosOrcid: 0000-0002-0686-872xPetsios, KonstantinosRoussos, SotiriosOrcid: 0000-0003-2347-0817Pratikaki, MariaJahaj, EdisonProtopapas, KonstantinosLeontis, KonstantinosRapti, VasilikiKotanidou, AnastasiaAntoniadou, AnastasiaPoulakou, GaryphalliaParaskevis, DimitriosOrcid: 0000-0001-6167-7152Sypsa, VanaHatzakis, AngelosJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tPLoS One. 2020 Dec 3;15(12):e0243025. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243025. eCollection 2020.