Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and Risk Assessment Among Healthcare Workers at a Dedicated Tertiary Care COVID-19 Hospital in Delhi, India: A Cohort Study

Abstract

BackgroundHealthcare workers (HCWs) have a substantially higher risk of Covid-19 infection but there is a paucity of information on the risk factors of disease transmission in high-burden real-world settings.The study objective was to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among healthcare workers in a high-burden Covid-19 setting and to estimate the incidence and identify the risk factors of infection. MethodsThis was a prospective observational cohort study amongst doctors and nurses working at a dedicated Covid-19 tertiary care government hospital in Delhi, India. A baseline blood sample (2-3ml) was collected from all the participants to test for the presence of total SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The HCWs that were seronegative (non-reactive) at baseline were followed-up for ≥21≤28 days with the collection of a second blood sample to assess for the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. ResultsA total of 321 (51.3%, 95% C.I 47.4, 55.3) HCWs were detected with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies on baseline examination. The seroprevalence, when adjusted for assay characteristics, was 54.5% (95% C.I 50.3, 58.6). On bivariate analysis, SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity lacked statistically significant association with either age, sex, occupation, cumulative duty duration, and smoking status. The incidence of seroconversion in the baseline seronegative cohort on follow-up after 21-28 days was observed in 35 (14.9%) HCWs (n=245). Furthermore, the self-reported adherence to infection prevention and control measures did not show a statistically significant association with antibody positivity in the HCWs, neither at baseline nor on followup. ConclusionsThe high risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in HCWs may be substantially reduced by adherence to Infection Prevention Control (IPC) and protective measures.

Serosurveillance of COVID-19 amongst health care workers in a teaching institution – A prospective cohort study in Puducherry district

“…[ 17 ] observed that the seroprevalence (COVID-19 IgG ELISA) amongst the vaccinated and unvaccinated HCWs was 91.7 and 38.2%, respectively. In the study by Sharma P et al ,[ 18 ] 51.3% (95% C.I: 47.4–55.3) HCWs were detected with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies on baseline examination. Further, out of the 245 HCWs included in the study, 35 (14.9%) who were initially seronegative converted to seropositive after a follow-up period of 21–28 days (median 24 days).…”