Family physicians or pediatricians and general practitioners (GPs) work in non-hospital settings. GPs usually visit many patients, frequently at their homes, with low potential, if any, to control the work setting. Particularly during the initial phases of the COVID-19 outbreak, they were not informed about the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients, with inadequate information regarding the risk, a lack of suitable protective measures and, in some cases, deficient or poor accessibility to personal protective equipment (PPE). During the first wave of COVID-19, primary care physicians were on the front line and isolated the first cases of the disease. The present study aims to estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in a cohort of 133 GPs working in Catania (Italy) after the first wave of COVID-19. Serological analysis revealed a low seroprevalence (3%) among GPs. The low seroprevalence highlighted in the results can be attributed to correct management of patients by GPs in the first wave. It is now hoped that mass vaccination, combined with appropriate behavior and use of PPE, can help further reduce the risk of COVID-19 disease.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, healthcare worker, General practitioners, healthcare personnel, Medical doctor, 【초록키워드】 Personal protective equipment, primary care, vaccination, risk, Italy, Cohort, family, COVID-19 outbreak, management, Patient, PPE, information, disease, First wave, patients, Protective, Analysis, help, measure, SARS-CoV-2-infected patients, physician, Practitioner, risk of COVID-19, initial, Occurrence, lack, the disease, reduce, Catania, 【제목키워드】 Seroprevalence, Italy, Wave, physician, Catania,