Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers in a non-COVID-19 teaching university hospital

  • Ahmed Mukhtar
    Department of Anesthesia, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
  • Mostafa Afishawy
    Infectious Diseases Consultants and Academic Researchers of Egypt (IDCARE), Cairo, Egypt. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9153-3237
  • Engy Alkhatib
    Department of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1716-4899
  • Moushira Hosny
    Department of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
  • Mohamed Ollaek
    Department of Anesthesia, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0641-092X
  • Amal Elsayed
    Department of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
  • Marwa Rashad Salem
    Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5474-3147
  • Doaa Ghaith
    Department of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.

ABSTRACT

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the published reports on COVID-19 emphasized that health care workers (HCWs) get infected more than the general population representing one of the most vulnerable groups. However, that the real percentage of HCWs infected by SARS-CoV-2 in Egypt remains unknown. The researchers conducted the current study to assess seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG among HCWs working in a hospital with no SARS-CoV-2 patients, and to identify the potential factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 IgG seropositivity.

Design and Methods
: The current study is a cross-sectional study carried out among 455 HCWs at Cairo University Hospital. The researchers administered a questionnaire shortly before the SARS-CoV-2 rapid test is performed using closed-ended question format to obtain information on demographic data of the study participants including age, sex, specialty, clinical information including questions about medical conditions, and. history of previous exposure with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19, and history of COVID-19- compatible symptoms during the previous 14 days (cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, shortness of breath, fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, anosmia, ageusia, and chills).

Results:
 We screened 455 HCWs for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, 31.4% were in the high-risk group, and 68.6% in the low-risk group. The overall IgG seroprevalence was 36 (7.9%) (95% CI 5.8 to 10.8). The IgG seroprevalence was significantly higher in low-risk group 11% (35/312) versus high-risk group 0.7% (1/143), p<0.001.
Conclusions: Low seropositivity rates for SARS-CoV-2 among HCWs is suggestive of lack of immunity and we are still far from herd immunity.

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