High Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among Healthcare Workers in a North Italy Hospital

Airoldi, Chiara; Patrucco, Filippo; Milano, F; Alessi, Daniela; Sarro, Andrea; Rossi, Micaela; Cena, Tiziana; Borrè, Silvio; Faggiano, Fabrizio

doi:10.3390/ijerph18073343

Cited by 17 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…HCWs from emergency departments reportedly have a lower percentage of seropositivity (5.9%) [ 36 ]. In contrast with our study, Airoldi et al [ 37 ] found that female HCWs have higher odds of seropositivity OR 1.29, 95% CI (0.92 to 1.80), but other studies have shown, like our study, that male HCWs have a higher ORs [ 26 , 38 ]. Similar to our study, studies have confirmed the increased odds of seropositivity in physicians compared to nurses and other HCWs [ 38 ].…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among staff at primary healthcare institutions in Prishtina

Halili¹,

Bunjaku²,

Gashi³

et al. 2022

BMC Infect Dis

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Background Many studies examined the spread of SARS-CoV-2 within populations using seroprevalence. Healthcare workers are a high-risk population due to patient contact, and studies are needed to examine seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthcare workers. Our study investigates the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among staff at primary healthcare institutions in Prishtina, and factors associated with seroprevalence. Methods We carried out a cross-sectional survey including SARS-CoV-2 serological testing and questionnaires with primary healthcare workers from primary healthcare facilities in the Prishtina, the capital city of Kosovo. We calculated prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, and of self-reported positive PCR test among primary healthcare workers, as well as crude and adjusted ORs for explanatory factors. Results Eighty-three of the healthcare workers (17.47%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies IgG or IgM, while 231 (48.63%) either had antibodies or a previous positive PCR test. Odds of seropositivity were affected by male gender (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.20, 3.61), and infected family members (OR 3.61, 95% CI 2.25, 5.79) of healthcare workers. Higher education, being part of larger families and having infected family members gave higher odds of positive PCR test and seropositivity. Other healthcare workers had lower odds of positive PCR test and seropositivity than physicians. Conclusion Over 17% of healthcare workers were seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and close to half of them were either seropositive or PCR self-reported positive test. Several factors are associated with decreased and increased odds for such outcomes. These findings should be explored further and addressed to Kosovo policy makers, and assist them to intensify vaccination efforts, and maintain control measures until we achieve herd immunity.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among staff at primary healthcare institutions in Prishtina

Halili¹,

Bunjaku²,

Gashi³

et al. 2022

BMC Infect Dis

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“…Health workers (HW) have a substantial risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 due to their frequent and intensive contact with infected patients [ 1 ]. In Northern Italy, which was particularly hit by the first COVID-19 wave in Europe, seroprevalence was 28.5% in HW with a high exposure to infected patients compared to 12.8% in the low exposure group [ 2 ]. In Spain, similar infection rates were found.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cumulative Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 in Healthcare Workers at a General Hospital in Germany during the Pandemic—A Longitudinal Analysis

Platten

Nienhaus

Peters

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Health workers (HW) are at increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. In order to monitor the infection dynamic on the basis of contact with patients, HW at the St. Antonius Hospital (SAH) were tested four times in one year by PCR and serology. The cumulative incidence of infection in HW was calculated. Swab and blood tests were simultaneously performed between April 2020 and April 2021. Risk factors and demographic information were assessed at the beginning of the study. The response rate was above 75% in all rounds of testing. The study comprised 1506 HW, 165 (10.6%) of which tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Working in an ICU or on wards with patient contact were risk factors (OR 4.4, 95% CI 1.73–13.6 and OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.27–8.49). At the end of the study, the majority of HW (810 of 1363 (59.4%)) had been vaccinated at least once. A total of 29.1% of unvaccinated HW and 5.3% of vaccinated HW showed an immune response typical for natural SARS-CoV-2 infection. Of the 73 HW who provided information on the course of the disease, 31.5% reported that their quality of life continued to be impaired. The cumulative incidence of infection was low in these HW, which may be attributed to vaccination and good hygiene. Nevertheless, a work-related infection risk was identified, highlighting the need to improve protection against infection. A high risk of developing long COVID was found after the infection has subsided. Special rehabilitation programs should be provided and HW should be compensated for reduced work capacity in the case that rehabilitation fails or takes a long time.

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“…Other national studies were conducted among hospital healthcare workers in the same Italian provinces and the prevalence ranged from 5.13% to 8.62% ( Amendola et al , 2020 ; Paderno et al , 2020 ; Sotgiu et al , 2020 ; Calcagno et al , 2021 ), coherent with our estimates. Only in one study an extreme value of 17.11% was observed ( Airoldi et al , 2021 ). Finally, in an Italian study ( Vena et al , 2020 ) conducted in March–April 2020 ( n = 3609) in close geographical area, the authors observed that occupational exposures and living in a long-term care facility increased the probability of being seropositive with Odds Ratios of 2.60 [95%CI 1.76–3.88] and 7.56 [95%CI 5.58–10.23], respectively.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Among Workers in Northern Italy

Airoldi

Calcagno

Perri

et al. 2021

Annals of Work Exposures and Health

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Background The spread of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among active workers is poor known. The aim of our study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) among a convenience sample of workers and to identify high-risk job sectors during the first pandemic way. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study among workers tested for SARS-CoV-2 between 28 March and 7 August 2020, recorded by a private healthcare center located in North-West Italy. Association among seroprevalence and demographic and occupational variables was evaluated using chi square test and the seroprevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results We collected the results for 23568 serological tests from a sample of 22708 workers from about 1000 companies. Median age was 45 years and about 60% of subjects were male. The overall seroprevalence was 4.97% [95%CI 4.69–5.25]. No statistical difference was found among gender while seroprevalence was associated with subjects’ age, geographical location, and occupational sector. Significantly higher values of positivity were observed for the logistics sector (31.3%), weaving factory (12.6%), nursing homes (9.8%), and chemical industry (6.9%) workers. However, we observed some clusters of cases in single companies independently from the sector. Then, a detailed focus on 940 food workers shown a seroprevalence of 5.21% [95%CI 3.79–6.63] and subjects who self-reported COVID-19 symptoms and who worked during lockdown had a higher probability of being infected (p < 0.001). Conclusions Data obtained might be useful for future public health decision; more than occupation sector, it seems that failure on prevention system in single companies increase the SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

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High Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among Healthcare Workers in a North Italy Hospital

Cited by 17 publications

References 21 publications

Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among staff at primary healthcare institutions in Prishtina

Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among staff at primary healthcare institutions in Prishtina

Cumulative Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 in Healthcare Workers at a General Hospital in Germany during the Pandemic—A Longitudinal Analysis

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Among Workers in Northern Italy

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