| Title |
Cross-sectional prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in healthcare workers in paediatric facilities in eight countries / |
| Authors |
Goldblatt, D ; Johnson, M ; Falup-Pecurariu, O ; Ivaškevičienė, Inga ; Spoulou, V ; Tamm, E ; Wagner, M ; Zar, H J ; Bleotu, L ; Ivaškevičius, Rimvydas ; Papadatou, I ; Jõgi, P ; Lischka, J ; Franckling-Smith, Z ; Isarova, D ; Grandjean, L ; Zavadska, D |
| DOI |
10.1016/j.jhin.2020.12.019 |
| Full Text |
|
| Is Part of |
Journal of hospital infection.. London : W B Saunders Co Ltd. 2021, vol. 110, p. 60-66.. eISSN 1532-2939 |
| Keywords [eng] |
COVID-19 ; healthcare workers ; hospital workers ; SARS-CoV-2 ; seroprevalence |
| Abstract [eng] |
BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers (HCWs) have been disproportionately affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which may be driven, in part, by nosocomial exposure. If HCW exposure is predominantly nosocomial, HCWs in paediatric facilities, where few patients are admitted with COVID-19, may lack antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and be at increased risk during the current resurgence. AIM: To compare the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 amongst HCWs in paediatric facilities in seven European countries and South Africa (N=8). METHODS: All categories of paediatric HCWs were invited to participate in the study, irrespective of previous symptoms. A single blood sample was taken and data about previous symptoms were documented. Serum was shipped to a central laboratory in London where SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G was measured. FINDINGS: In total, 4114 HCWs were recruited between 1st May and mid-July 2020. The range of seroprevalence was 0-16.93%. The highest seroprevalence was found in London (16.93%), followed by Cape Town, South Africa (10.36%). There were no positive HCWs in the Austrian, Estonian and Latvian cohorts; 2/300 [0.66%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.18-2.4] HCWs tested positive in Lithuania; 1/124 (0.81%, 95% CI 0.14-4.3) HCWs tested positive in Romania; and 1/76 (1.3%, 95% CI 0.23-7.0) HCWs tested positive in Greece. CONCLUSION: Overall seroprevalence amongst paediatric HCWs is similar to their national populations and linked to the national COVID-19 burden. Staff working in paediatric facilities in low-burden countries have very low seroprevalence rates and thus are likely to be susceptible to COVID-19. Their susceptibility to infection may affect their ability to provide care in the face of increasing cases of COVID-19, and this highlights the need for appropriate preventative strategies in paediatric healthcare settings. |
| Published |
London : W B Saunders Co Ltd |
| Type |
Journal article |
| Language |
English |
| Publication date |
2021 |
| CC license |
|
