Korean J healthc assoc Infect Control Prev.  2021 Jun;26(1):24-30. 10.14192/kjicp.2021.26.1.24.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 Antibody Seropositivity among Healthcare Workers Working in Coronavirus Disease Wards

• Lim S
• Lim SJ
• Lee SM
• Kim IS
• Kim T
• Lee SJ

• KMID: 2516941
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14192/kjicp.2021.26.1.24

Abstract

Background
Healthcare workers (HCWs) involved in the care of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) are at risk of being infected. This study aimed to investigate the seropositivity of SARS-CoV-2 among the HCWs.
Methods
From June to July 2020, 151 serum samples of HCWs involved in the care of COVID-19 patients from two hospitals in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, were collected to test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. Epidemiologic data were collected using a questionnaire.
Results
Among the 151 HCWs, 3 (2.0%) had detectable SARS-CoV-2 IgG. Two of them were nurses working in the COVID-19 ward of the first hospital and had no direct contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients without personal protective equipment (PPE). The other HCW worked at the infection prevention office and was 6 weeks pregnant at the time of the study. In this study, 19 participants self-reported 33 episodes of contamination during PPE removal, but none of them tested positive.
Conclusion
This study reported a seropositivity rate of 2.0% for SARS-CoV-2 IgG among HCWs. Following the exclusion of an HCW with a suspected false-positive result, the adjusted rate was 1.3%, which was higher than that reported at approximately the same time in the community (0.07%). However, there was no evidence of viral transmission among the colleagues of that HCW in this study. Standard precautions, proper monitoring, and PPE use could help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in hospital settings.

Keyword

COVID-19; HCWs; SARS-CoV-2; Seropositivity

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