SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among health-care workers in Isfahan, Iran

Authors
Soodabeh Rostami 1
Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard 2
Zary Nokhodian 3
Nazila Kassaian 3
Ali Zamani 3
Zohreh Tahvilian 3
Parto Nasri 3
Maryam Nasirian 3
Behrooz Ataei 3
1 Nosocomial Infection Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Physiology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
3 Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Background: Health-care workers (HCWs) are in the frontline for fighting the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and are at higher risk of acquiring the infection. Therefore, the defining immunity status among HCWs helps mitigate the exposure risk. In this study, we investigated the anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) and also the associated risk factors in the HCWs working in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences COVID-19 referral hospitals.
Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, demographics, COVID-19 symptoms during the past 2 weeks, and health-care details were collected from 200 consenting health workers of COVID-center-hospitals of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences from 23 October to 21 December 2020. The recombinant SARS-CoV2 nucleocapsid protein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based IgM, and IgG antibody tests were evaluated. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and independent-t-student tests, and P < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: One hundred and forty-one women and 59 men with a mean age of 36.4 ± 7.77 years participated in the study. IgG Ab and IgM Ab were positive in 77 (38.5%) and 12 (6%) of samples, respectively, and both antibodies were detected in 9 (4.5%). Higher ages, direct contact with the patients with COVID-19, muscle pain, loss of taste and smell, fever, and cough were the factors associated with antibody seropositivity against SARS-CoV2.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the prevalence of HCWs with antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 is relatively high in Isfahan University referral hospitals. The development of safety protocols and screening and vaccination strategies in the frontline HCWs must be implemented to reduce the burden of infection.

Keywords

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Advanced Biomedical Research
Volume 2023, February
February 2023
Pages 1-5