SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers of a gastroenterological service in a tertiary care facility

Abstract

Background and study aims Frontlines healthcare workers (HCWs) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are at increased risk of infection by SARS-CoV-2, but there are limited data on the prevalence of COVID-19 among HCWs in Egypt. This study aimed to assess SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs providing gastroenterological services. Subjects and methods Seventy-four HCWs at the gastroenterological service of Al-Manial University Hospital, the main hospital of the largest tertiary university hospitals complex in Egypt (Kasr Al-Ainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University) were tested using real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on nasopharyngeal samples, and rapid serological IgM/IgG tests (RST). A questionnaire was used to collect demographic, occupational and clinical data. Results Of the 74 HCWs, 10 tested positive by RT-PCR (13.5%). In 9/74 (12.2%) HCWs, antibodies could be detected by RST: three with both IgM and IgG lines; six with IgM line only and none with IgG line only. Frequency of positive tests was more among subjects with minor symptoms compared to completely asymptomatic HCWs (50% vs 16.1%, respectively). Neither age, gender or occupation was a risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusions Point prevalence of COVID-19 in gastroenterology HCWs is 13.5% by RT-PCR. Continued measures are warranted to assure HCWs safety and reduce transmission from healthcare settings to the community during COVID-19 pandemic. Presence of positive test results among asymptomatic HCWs illustrates the importance of screening all HCWs irrespective of symptoms.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and associated factors in healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Mean age of HCWs ranged from 31.2 [ 51 ] years to 47.9 years [ 57 ], while sample size ranged from 25 [ 40 ] to 40,329 HCWs [ 14 ]. Regarding the study design, 26 studies were cross-sectional studies [ 14 , 15 , 18 , 19 , 21 , [23] , [24] , [25] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] , [32] , [34] , [35] , [36] , [37] , 39 , 44 , 47 , 52 , 54 , 58 , 60 , 61 ], 20 studies were prevalence studies [ 17 , 26 , 33 , 38 , [40] , [41] , [42] , [43] , 45 , 46 , [48] , [49] , [50] , [51] , 53 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 59 , 62 ], and three studies were cohort studies [ 16 , 20 , 22 ]. All studies except one [ 31 ] used a convenience sample, while response rate ranged from 47.7% [ 19 ] to 100% [ 36 , 60 ].…”

“…All studies except one [ 31 ] used a convenience sample, while response rate ranged from 47.7% [ 19 ] to 100% [ 36 , 60 ]. Forty-two studies were conducted in hospitals [ [15] , [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] , 26 , 27 , [29] , [30] , [31] , [32] , [33] , [34] , [35] , [36] , [37] , [38] , [39] , [40] , [41] , [42] , [43] , [44] , [45] , [46] , [47] , [48] , [50] , [51] , [52] , [53] , [54] , [55] , [56] , [57] , [58] , [59] , [60] , [61] , [62] ], four studies in primary care facilities and hospitals [ 14 , 25 , 28 , 49 ], two studies in primary care facilities [ 35 , 62 ] and one study in cancer centers [ 59 ]. Thirty-five studies were published in journals [ [14] , [15] , [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , <...>…”

“…Twenty-seven studies [ 14 , 15 , 18 , 19 , [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] , [32] , [34] , [35] , [36] , [37] , 39 , 44 , 47 , 52 , 54 , 58 , 60 , 61 ] investigated factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies positivity and 13 studies found associations [ 14 , 18 , [23] , [24] , [25] , 28 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 36 , 39 , 47 , 60 ] ( Table 2 ). Twenty-four studies [ 15 , 19 , [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] , [32] , [34] , [35] , [36] , [37] , 44 , 47 , 52 , 54 , 58 , 60 , 61 ] used univariate analysis, while three studies [ 14 ...…”

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and associated factors in health care workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…A total of 127,480 HCWs were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Forty-nine studies [14-62] reported data regarding the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among HCWs and 27 studies [14, 15, 18, 19, 21-25-27-32-34-37,39,44,47,52,54,58,60,61] investigated factors for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies positivity.…”

“…Mean age of HCWs ranged from 31.2 [51] years to 47.9 years [57], while sample size ranged from 25 [40] to 40,329 HCWs [14]. Regarding the study design, 26 studies were cross-sectional studies [14, 15, 18, 19, 21, 23-25,27-32,34-37,39,44,47,52,54,58,60,61], 20 studies were prevalence studies [17, 26, 33, 38, 40-43,45-46,48-51,53,55,56,57,59,62], and three studies were cohort studies [16, 20, 22]. All studies except one [31] used a convenience sample, while response rate ranged from 47.7% [19] to 100% [36, 60].…”