SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence in NHS healthcare workers in a large double-sited UK hospital

Abstract

We determined the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in NHS healthcare workers (HCWs) in a cross-sectional study from a large general hospital located in a double-sited rural and semi-rural area. The sample size of 3,119 HCWs (mean age 43±13) consisted of 75.2% women, 61.1% White individuals and predominantly (62.4%) asymptomatic individuals. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 19.7%. Determinants of seropositivity were preceding symptomatic infection and non-White ethnicity. Regardless of staff role or sex, multivariate regression analysis revealed that non-White HCWs were three times (odds ratio [OR] 3.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.53-3.86, P<0.001) more likely to have antibodies than White staff, and seven times (OR 7.10, 95% CI 5.72-8.87, P<0.001) more likely if there was a history of preceding symptoms. We report relatively high rates of seropositivity in all NHS healthcare workers. Non-White symptomatic HCWs were significantly more likely to be seropositive than their colleagues, independent of age, sex or staff role.

Seroprevalence in health care workers during the later phase of the second wave: Results of three hospitals in Serbia, prior to vaccine administration

“…Our results are similar for those obtained in the studies conducted during almost the same period in the East of Scotland [9] where the seroprevalence was 14.5%, then in two hospitals in the London area (UK) [10] (19.7%) and two hospitals in North Italy (17.1%) [11] .…”

Ethnic background and risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among the healthcare workforces: Results of a large occupational cohort study in rural United Kingdom.

“…Our analysis only focused on the health workforce in the Lincolnshire region which is a predominantly rural county and may therefore not be generalisable to all of the UK. However, we included a high number of various structures (e.g., GP practices, hospital, health centres) providing different type of health services (metal health, acute care and community care) which allowed us to take into account the richness of healthcare sector where other studies mainly focused on teaching or university hospitals 7,11,14,30,31 .…”

“…Pakistanis, Indians, Bangladeshis) backgrounds have displayed a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection 4,7−16 . However, many studies investigating risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection have limitations, such as cross-sectional designs unable to demonstrate causality 8,13−16 , a limited number of health facilities included questioning study representativeness 11,13,14 , unadjusted results or omission of important confounding variables (e.g., occupational exposure, residential environment) 9,12,14,15 .…”

“…However, to date, there are only two peer reviewed publications examining the impact of the second wave of the outbreak on healthcare professionals in the UK. The rst focused on dental care professionals; while the second was a cross-sectional study in a single hospital setting 9,11 . Understanding the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 infection risk factors across the different waves of the pandemic is important to observe if the generalisation and adoption of mitigation measures (e.g.…”

A Prospective, Longitudinal Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 Exposure, Use of Protective Equipment and Social Distancing in a Group of Community Physicians

“…They have been faced with the potential sacrifice of their own health and lives in the process. Healthcare workers were classified as a high-risk group due to contact with infected patients [ 5 , 6 ]. Physicians involved in the performance of high-risk procedures (such as intubation and bronchoscopy) are likely at a higher risk for direct exposure to the virus [ 7 ].…”