SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence among healthcare workers: A cross-sectional study at a quaternary healthcare center in Saudi Arabia

Amer, Hala; Abdallah, Hassan A; Alkheledan, Haifa S; Alzarzour, Shaimaa H.; Shrahily, Ahmad; Tamim, Hani; Alqahtani, Saleh A.; Memish, Ziad A.

doi:10.1016/j.jiph.2022.01.018

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 18 publications

(13 reference statements)

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“…The high seroprevalence among HCW in this study reflects the reality that HCWs are at a high-risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection given their direct role in patient care [ 38 ]. This is in line with reports from Saudi Arabia where seroprevalence among HCW in December 2020 was 10-folds higher (26.5%) than that among general population (2.36%) in May 2020 [ 39 , 40 ]. Another study from South Africa (Gauteng Province), illustrated a period prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections ranged from 6.1% to 15.4% for the period 1 June—31 August 2020 [ 41 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Seroprevalence and factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers: cross-sectional study

Taher,

Bawazir,

Sallam

et al. 2023

BMC Infect Dis

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Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 due to their close contact with infected patients. However, the true burden of COVID-19 among HCWs in Yemen is unknown due to the inadequate availability of healthcare and the subclinical nature of the disease. This study aims to estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs in two Yemeni governorates and identify associated factors using a cross-sectional design. Method A total of 404 HCWs were surveyed from June 2022 to September 2022 in Lahj and AL-Dhalea hospitals. A self-administered questionnaire collected demographic data, COVID-19 infection history, and vaccination status. A total of 404 human sera were tested using a specific electrochemiluminescence immunoassay assay. Association analysis was conducted to identify associations between antibody prevalence and demographic and vaccine-related variables. Result The median age of the HCWs was 31 (Range 20–64) years, with 65.0% being male and 35.0% female. Of all HCWs, 94% were SARS-CoV-2 seropositive and 77.0% had no confirmed test of COVID-19-related symptoms. There was no significant association between seropositivity and demographic factors such as age, gender, occupation, or COVID-19 vaccination (P > 0.05). Conclusion The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was high among HCWs in Yemen, primarily due to natural infection rather than vaccination. Compliance with infection prevention and control measures did not significantly affect seropositivity. This study highlights the need for improved healthcare systems and resources to reduce the burden of COVID-19 and promote infection prevention and control (IPC) measures among HCWs in Yemen.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Seroprevalence and factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers: cross-sectional study

Taher,

Bawazir,

Sallam

et al. 2023

BMC Infect Dis

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“…The high seroprevalence among HCW in this study re ects the fact that HCWs are at a high-risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection given their direct role in patient care [32]. This is in line with reports from Saudi Arabia where seroprevalence among HCW in December 2020 was 10-folds [33], higher than that among general population May 2020 [34]. However, Epidemiological containment measures were inadequately implemented in Yemen due to the political status of the country, which likely accelerated the spread of the virus among the HCWs and ultimately increased the pressure on the healthcare settings that lacked access to appropriate PPE and practiced limited compliance to IPC measure [35] and ultimately intensely exposed HCW to infection.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Among Healthcare Workers in Two Governorates Hospitals, Yemen

Taher

Bawazir

Salam

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 due to their close contact with infected patients. However, the true burden of COVID-19 among HCWs in Yemen is unknown due to the inadequacy of the healthcare system and the subclinical nature of the disease. This study aims to estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs in two Yemeni governorates and identify associated factors using a cross-sectional design. Method A total of 404 HCWs were surveyed from June 2022 to September 2022 in Lahj and AL-Dhalea hospitals. A self-administered questionnaire collected demographic data, COVID-19 infection history, and vaccination status. Sera were tested using a specific electrochemiluminescence immunoassay assay. Association analysis was conducted to identify associations between antibody prevalence and demographic and vaccine-related variables. Result The mean age of the HCWs was 33 ± 9.0 years, with 65.0% being male and 35.0% female. Of all HCWs surveyed, 94% were SARS-CoV-2 seropositive, and 72.0% had no confirmed test of COVID-19-related symptoms. There was no significant association between seropositivity and age, gender, occupation, or COVID-19 vaccination (P > 0.05). Conclusion The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was high among HCWs in Yemen, primarily due to natural infection rather than vaccination. Compliance with infection prevention and control measures did not significantly affect seropositivity. This study highlights the need for improved healthcare systems and resources to reduce the burden of COVID-19 among HCWs in Yemen.

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“…In general, our overall test performance-adjusted SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence estimate of 22.5% among HCWs in private and public hospitals was similar to the reported seroprevalence estimates in conducted cross-sectional studies of HCWs in the UK (24.4%) ( 14 ), New York City (27.0%), and Saudi Arabia (26.5%) ( 2 , 14 , 15 ). Consistent with other studies, we also observed variation in SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity by HCWs' hospital role and department ( 4 , 14 ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Similarly a systematic review on 49 similar studies reported higher seropositivity in HCWs working in COVID-19 patient wards, direct work with patients, front lines, and health care assistants ( 17 ). Another study in middle east also reported that HCWs who spent a longer duration working with patients with COVID-19 were at increased risk for seropositivity ( 15 ). A large cross-sectional study on 1,40,782 HCWs in various hospital roles demonstrated higher odds of positive serology among internal medicine specialists and sub-specialities and lower odds of seropositivity among pathologists and forensic medicine specialist.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Among Health Care Workers in Major Private and Public Hospitals With COVID-19 Patient's Referral in Tehran, Iran

Darvishian¹,

Sharafkhah

Mohammadi

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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Estimating the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody seropositivity among health care workers (HCWs) is crucial. In this study, the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among HCWs of five hospitals of Tehran, Iran with high COVID-19 patient's referrals from April to June, 2020, was assessed. In this cross-sectional study, HCWs from three public and two private hospitals, selected randomly as a pilot, were included. Participants were asked questions on their demographic characteristics, medical history, hospital role, and usage of personal protective equipment (PPE). Iran FDA-approved SARS-CoV-2 ELISA kits were used to detect IgG and IgM antibodies in blood samples. The seroprevalence was estimated on the basis of ELISA test results and adjusted for test performance. Among the 2,065 participants, 1,825 (88.4%) and 240 (11.6%) HCWs were recruited from public and private hospitals, respectively. A total of 340 HCWs were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG or IgM antibodies, and 17.9% of seropositive individuals were asymptomatic. The overall test performance-adjusted seroprevalence estimate among HCWs was 22.6 (95% CI: 20.2–25.1), and PPE usage was significantly higher among HCWs of public vs. private hospitals (66.5 vs. 20.0%). This study found that seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among HCWs was higher in private hospitals (37.0%; 95% CI: 28.6–46.2) than public hospitals (20.7%; 95% CI: 18.2–23.3), and also highest among assistant nurses and nurses, and lowest among janitor or superintendent categories. The PPE usage was especially suboptimal among HCWs in private hospitals. Continued effort in access to adequate PPE and regular screening of hospital staff for detecting asymptomatic personnel, especially during the upcoming wave of infection, are warranted.

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SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence among healthcare workers: A cross-sectional study at a quaternary healthcare center in Saudi Arabia

Cited by 4 publications

References 18 publications

Seroprevalence and factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers: cross-sectional study

Seroprevalence and factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers: cross-sectional study

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Among Healthcare Workers in Two Governorates Hospitals, Yemen

SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Among Health Care Workers in Major Private and Public Hospitals With COVID-19 Patient's Referral in Tehran, Iran

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