Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) have a substantially higher risk of Covid-19 infection but there is a paucity of information on the risk factors of disease transmission in high-burden real-world settings. The study objective was to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among healthcare workers in a high-burden Covid-19 setting and to estimate the incidence and identify the risk factors of infection. Methods This was a prospective observational cohort study amongst doctors and nurses working at a dedicated Covid-19 tertiary care government hospital in Delhi, India. A baseline blood sample (2-3ml) was collected from all the participants to test for the presence of total SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The HCWs that were seronegative (non-reactive) at baseline were followed-up for ≥21≤28 days with the collection of a second blood sample to assess for the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results A total of 321 (51.3%, 95% C.I 47.4, 55.3) HCWs were detected with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies on baseline examination. The seroprevalence, when adjusted for assay characteristics, was 54.5% (95% C.I 50.3, 58.6). On bivariate analysis, SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity lacked statistically significant association with either age, sex, occupation, cumulative duty duration, and smoking status. The incidence of seroconversion in the baseline seronegative cohort on follow-up after 21-28 days was observed in 35 (14.9%) HCWs (n=245). Furthermore, the self-reported adherence to infection prevention and control measures did not show a statistically significant association with antibody positivity in the HCWs, neither at baseline nor on follow-up. Conclusions The high risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in HCWs may be substantially reduced by adherence to Infection Prevention Control (IPC) and protective measures.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Seroprevalence, India, Seroconversion, 【초록키워드】 antibody, SARS-COV-2 infection, hospital, Infection, Sex, prevention, risk factor, healthcare worker, Cohort, SARS-CoV-2 transmission, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, Characteristics, SARS-CoV-2 antibody, Measures, HCWs, Infection prevention, Control, age, Follow-up, incidence, information, smoking status, Care, seronegative, Protective, association, disease transmission, Analysis, Nurse, high risk, HCW, Government, higher risk, blood sample, measure, participant, cumulative, Result, identify, was collected, reduced, adjusted, determine, statistically significant, baseline, prospective observational cohort, 【제목키워드】 assessment, worker, Tertiary,