El-Ghitany Engy Mohamed, Farghaly Azza Galal, Farag Shehata, Hashish Mona H, Charl Fahmy, Omran Eman A
Department of Tropical Health, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, 165 El-Horreya Avenue, Alexandria, Egypt.
Department of Biostatistics, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, 165 El-Horreya Avenue, Alexandria, Egypt.
J Egypt Public Health Assoc. 2022 Jun 4;97(1):11. doi: 10.1186/s42506-022-00106-4.
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at the front line in battling infection transmission, such as that in coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Additionally, they may act as potential carriers passing the virus on to others. Anti-spike (anti-S) antibodies for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are formed either as a result of infection or vaccination with both indicating immunity against future COVID-19 infection.
This study aimed to identify the prevalence of COVID-19 seropositivity among HCWs.
This cross-sectional study included 559 HCWs from 39 hospitals with variable degrees of COVID-19 exposure risk (depending on the occupation, department, and hospital type). Demographic data were recorded as well as history of COVID-19 infection and vaccination. Serum samples were collected and tested for SARS-CoV-2 spike antibodies.
Anti-S positivity was found in 59.0% of the participating 559 HCWs, indicating a high level of seroprotection. Of the 559 HCWs, 34.1% had reported previous infection with COVID-19. Following infection, only 46 (24.0%) of those affected received vaccination. Anti-S seropositivity was found in 39.1% of participants who were unvaccinated and had no history of infection. Physicians had the highest median anti-S titers (58.0 relative units (RU)/mL), whereas pharmacists and office staff had the lowest (25.7 and 38.2 RU/mL, respectively).
Overall, 59.0% of the 559 HCWs were anti-S positive, indicating a relatively high seroprotective status. Among those who were unvaccinated and had no history of infection, 39.1% were seropositive for anti-S, denoting a high rate of silent/asymptomatic infections. Screening of HCWs for SARS-CoV-2 anti-S is recommended, along with the vaccination of seronegative individuals.
医护人员处于抗击感染传播的第一线，比如在冠状病毒病19（COVID-19）疫情中。此外，他们可能成为将病毒传播给他人的潜在携带者。严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）的抗刺突蛋白（抗S）抗体可通过感染或接种疫苗产生，二者均表明对未来的COVID-19感染具有免疫力。
本研究旨在确定医护人员中COVID-19血清学阳性的流行率。
这项横断面研究纳入了来自39家医院的559名医护人员，这些医院的COVID-19暴露风险程度各异（取决于职业、科室和医院类型）。记录了人口统计学数据以及COVID-19感染和接种疫苗的病史。采集血清样本并检测SARS-CoV-2刺突抗体。
在参与研究的559名医护人员中，59.0%的人抗S呈阳性，表明血清保护水平较高。在这559名医护人员中，34.1%的人报告曾感染过COVID-19。感染后，只有46名（24.0%）感染者接种了疫苗。在未接种疫苗且无感染史的参与者中，39.1%的人抗S血清学呈阳性。医生的抗S滴度中位数最高（58.0相对单位（RU）/毫升），而药剂师和办公室工作人员的抗S滴度中位数最低（分别为25.7和38.2 RU/毫升）。
总体而言，559名医护人员中有59.0%的人抗S呈阳性，表明血清保护状态相对较高。在未接种疫苗且无感染史的人员中，39.1%的人抗S血清学呈阳性，这表明无症状/隐性感染率较高。建议对医护人员进行SARS-CoV-2抗S筛查，并对血清学阴性者进行疫苗接种。
