Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) among Health Care Workers in Three Health Facilities of Yaounde, Center Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Introduction: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) first appeared in December 2019 in Wuhan, China and has subsequently become a worldwide pandemic. During the pandemic, health care workers (HCWs) were very exposed to COVID-19 infected patients. The aim of this study was to determine seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) among HCWs in three health facilities of Yaounde. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 368 HCWs was conducted from January 18th to February 13th, 2021, in three health facilities located in city of Yaounde. Data of study participants were collected by face-to-face interviews using standard questionnaire. Blood samples were collected in labelled dry tubes and analyzed using Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) cassettes (Abbott PanbioTMCOVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test Device). The data collected was analyzed using Epi info version 7. Any value of p <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The average age was 30.25 (SD±10.43) years old, range from 21 to 72 years old. Overall, the positivity rates of IgM, IgG and IgM+IgG were 6.79% (n=25), 17.93% (n=66) and 1.09% (n=4) respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that, the rate of IgM positivity was highest in laboratory personnel (χ2= 7.99, p=0.3) and IgG (χ2= 8.50, p=0.29), IgM+IgG (χ2= 1.92, p=0.26) respectively in pharmacy and clinical personnel. The clinical signs such as fever (˃38°C) or history of fever was statistically significant with IgM (χ2=11.71, p= 0.0006) while, sore throat was statistically significant associated with IgM (χ2= 14.3, p= 0.0008) and IgG (χ2= 6.33, p= 0.04). Conclusion: The results of this study reveal a high seroprevalence of circulation of the virus in hospital milieu in Yaounde suggesting the continuation of the COVID-19 « Track-Test-Treat » system to break the chain of transmission.

Seroprevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies and associated risk factors during the second wave of infection in a university community in Cameroon

“…Similar variations have been observed in others seroprevalence studies in general population in Cameroon, depending on the population assessed and the implementation period. Our results were also similar to those reported by a large cross‐sectional survey conducted in households in an urban health district in Yaoundé and found an overall prevalence of 29.2%, 12 which was higher than that found in a population of health care workers in three health facility of Yaoundé (23.6%) 13 . Our seroprevalence is lower than that reported by Fai et al (32%) 14 conducted in COVID‐19 testing sites across the Center region of Cameroon between June and August 2020 and the study conducted by Ndongo et al 15 in two independent population‐based SARS‐CoV‐2 serosurveys in Yaoundé, Cameroon, during January 27 to February 6 (18.6%) and April 24 to May 19, 2021 (51.3%).…”

“…Our results were also similar to those reported by a large cross-sectional survey conducted in households in an urban health district in Yaoundé and found an overall prevalence of 29.2%, 12 which was higher than that found in a population of health care workers in three health facility of Yaoundé (23.6%). 13 Our seroprevalence is lower than that reported by Fai et al…”

“…Potential reasons for these findings might be related to the student living conditions, less follow‐up of preventive public health measures and more importantly the fact that most of the participants, as health science students, have completed internships in different hospital environment since December 2020. This undoubtedly increased the circulation of the virus among these students, since it is well‐known that the COVID‐19 prevalence was high among healthcare workers in Cameroon 13,24 …”

“…This undoubtedly increased the circulation of the virus among these students, since it is well-known that the COVID-19 prevalence was high among healthcare workers in Cameroon. 13,24 Some limitations of this study include the lack of data related to participant having experienced COVID-like symptoms or had a previous PCR confirmation, household composition and comorbidities. Second, the diagnostic accuracy of the rapid diagnostic tests used in this study is variable; this may be less sensitive than enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.…”

Comparative Performance of Serological (IgM/IgG) and Molecular Testing (RT-PCR) of COVID-19 in Three Private Universities in Cameroon during the Pandemic

“…We noted a predominance of IgG (24.40%) compared to IgM (20.62%). Similar trends have already been reported with higher IgG levels in the general population in the USA [ 32 ], Cameroon [ 7 , 33 , 34 , 35 ], Congo [ 36 ], India [ 37 ], and Brazil [ 38 ], as well as in students in Spain [ 39 ]. In fact, experience earned from the kinetics of the antibody response from other viral infections taught us that, unlike IgM, which appears in the acute phase of infection, IgG is the marker of chronic infection and should appear later on in greater amounts [ 40 ].…”