1Senior Resident, Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Medical Education and Research, New Delhi, India
2Associate Professor, Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Medical Education and Research, New Delhi, India
3Professor and Head, Microbiology, Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Medical Education and Research, New Delhi, India
4Senior Resident, Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Medical Education and Research, New Delhi, India
5Consultant, Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Medical Education and Research, New Delhi, India
*Corresponding author email id: sulmazreshi@gmail.com
Online published on 4 June, 2022.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV- 2) and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic on 11th March 2020. The healthcare workers (HCWs) are vulnerable and at high risk of getting infected by SARS-CoV-2 because of the occupational exposure to infectious droplets and other potentially infectious materials. Knowing about the Seroprevalence status of HCW may be useful for avoiding unnecessary quarantine and lead to better health care resource planning.
This prospective study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology in GB Pant Hospital New Delhi over a period of 6 months from August 2020 to January 2021. This study was conducted to understand the epidemiology of the disease in HCWs by analyzing the presence of anti SARS-COV2 antibodies, estimate the seropositivity and to assess the prevalence of asymptomatic infections in health care workers. In addition we intended to correlate the seroprevalence to the risk of exposure. Healthcare workers working in this hospital were enrolled for the purpose of the study on voluntary basis. Serum samples were tested for Anti-SARS CoV-IgG Antibodies.
A total of 1152 HCWs enrolled in the study. 292 HCWs had positive antibodies corresponding to an overall Seroprevalence of 25.34%. 137 males (26.29%) were positive for antibodies compared to 155 females (24.56%). Among HCWs Nursing Orderlies were found to have highest percentage of antibody positivity (44.07%). Doctors and Nurses had antibody positivity of 16.96% and 23.04% respectively. Family members of HCWs were seen to have an antibody positivity rate of 32.87% reflecting the community spread of the virus amongst the general population. Office employees with no direct patient contact had an antibody positivity of 36.17%. HCWs posted in Emergency had the maximum antibody positivity rate of 37.88%. Of the 292 seropositive HCWs, 137 had undergone RT PCR (137/292). Out of 137 seropositive tested by RT PCR, 55 (40.14%) were negative by RT-PCR. Of the 236 HCWs who were seronegative and had undergone a RT PCR testing, 45 were RT-PCR positive, they accounted for 19.07% (45/236) seronegative but RT PCR positive. 41.78% (122/292) of HCWs with previous COVID like symptoms tested positive for antibodies, whereas 58.21% (170/292) of asymptomatic HCWs tested positive for SARS CoV-2 antibodies.
The detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in relatively high number of asymptomatic HCWs, highlights the need for regular surveillance of HCWs. The knowledge of the seroprevalence status of HCW can be of help to hospital administration to decide about interventions to be taken to reduce spread among HCWs and community transmission. Moreover our results advocate that family members of HCWs and contact with COVID-19 confirmed cases are strongly associated with the development of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies
HCWs, Pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 IgG, Sero prevalence
