Dental care professionals (DCPs) are thought to be at enhanced risk of occupational exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, robust data to support this from large-scale seroepidemiological studies are lacking. We report a longitudinal seroprevalence analysis of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, with baseline sampling prior to large-scale practice reopening in July 2020 and follow-up postimplementation of new public health guidance on infection prevention control (IPC) and enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE). In total, 1,507 West Midlands DCPs were recruited into this study in June 2020. Baseline seroprevalence was determined using a combined IgGAM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the cohort followed longitudinally for 6 mo until January/February 2021 through the second wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in the United Kingdom and vaccination commencement. Baseline seroprevalence was 16.3%, compared to estimates in the regional population of 6% to 7%. Seropositivity was retained in over 70% of participants at 3- and 6-mo follow-up and conferred a 75% reduced risk of infection. Nonwhite ethnicity and living in areas of greater deprivation were associated with increased baseline seroprevalence. During follow-up, no polymerase chain reaction–proven infections occurred in individuals with a baseline anti–SARS-CoV-2 IgG level greater than 147.6 IU/ml with respect to the World Health Organization international standard 20-136. After vaccination, antibody responses were more rapid and of higher magnitude in those individuals who were seropositive at baseline. Natural infection with SARS-CoV-2 prior to enhanced PPE was significantly higher in DCPs than the regional population. Natural infection leads to a serological response that remains detectable in over 70% of individuals 6 mo after initial sampling and 9 mo from the peak of the first wave of the pandemic. This response is associated with protection from future infection. Even if serological responses wane, a single dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech 162b vaccine is associated with an antibody response indicative of immunological memory.
【저자키워드】 antibodies, SARS-CoV-2, vaccination, dentistry, seroepidemiological studies, occupational exposure, 【초록키워드】 coronavirus disease, public health, Personal protective equipment, Coronavirus disease 2019, Vaccine, coronavirus, pandemic, antibody, Antibody Response, spike glycoprotein, Infection, risk, severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus, Immunological memory, polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Cohort, Antibody responses, SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, International, Infection prevention, PPE, Seropositivity, second wave, Follow-up, respiratory, estimate, natural infection, United Kingdom, First wave, Care, Pfizer-BioNTech, seropositive, Guidance, SARS-CoV-2 IgG, single dose, international standard, serological response, Analysis, Deprivation, dental, leads, exposure to, Health Organization, health guidance, Support, World Health Organization, natural, acute respiratory syndrome, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, reduced risk, individual, participant, West, professional, future infection, anti–SARS-CoV-2 IgG, DCPs, enzyme-linked immunosorbent, polymerase chain, robust, initial, thought, greater, occurred, recruited, detectable, was determined, magnitude, significantly higher, retained, baseline, infection with SARS-CoV-2, 【제목키워드】 Seroprevalence, response, dental, professional,