Seroprevalence of SARS-COV-2 antibodies among health-care workers exposed to COVID-19 patients in a large reference hospital, Iran

Abdol Sattar Pagheh; Arghavan Asghari; Khadijeh Abrari Romenjan; Tahoora Mousavi; Farshid Abedi; Arash Ziaee; Hakime Malakimoghadam; Masood Ziaee

doi:10.18502/ijm.v14i2.9178

Abdol Sattar Pagheh Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
Arghavan Asghari Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
Khadijeh Abrari Romenjan Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
Tahoora Mousavi Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Farshid Abedi Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
Arash Ziaee Department of Neuroscience, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Hakime Malakimoghadam Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
Masood Ziaee Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v14i2.9178

Keywords: Health care workers; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Sero-epidemiological study; Iran

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Health care workers (HCWs) are a high-risk group for acquiring and transmitting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Aim of the study was the evaluation of sero-prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in a random sample of HCWs at a large acute care hospital in Iran.

Materials and Methods: We collected blood samples of 180 medical staffs from September 22, 2020 to January 26, 2021. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) tests were used for evaluation of the presence of IgG antibodies. Participants completed a self-report questionnaire, comprising demographics, occupational, the work area, and personal protection data.

Results: Of the 180 HCWs who participated in this study, 44 (24.4%) were seropositive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG. The percentage of IgG positivity was higher in males than females (P<0.05). Also, there was statistically significant difference between presence of the antibodies and the occupation, location, and infecting family members with Covid -1 (P<0.05). Other factors did not associate significantly to antibody presence against SARS-CoV-2 (P>0.05).

Conclusion: According to this point that the number of COVID-19 cases is still growing rapidly among HCWs. So, the epi- demiological estimate of SARS-CoV-2 infection remains a major challenge that is needed to prevent the spread of infection in the hospitals.