Prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike antibodies in some healthcare settings in Egypt
Abstract Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at the front line in battling infection transmission, such as that in coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Additionally, they may act as potential carriers passing the virus on to others. Anti-spike (anti-S) antibodies for severe acute respiratory synd...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:ea6eebfd9dcd419d9792c1bbdbc07f8a 2023-05-15T15:16:19+02:00 Prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike antibodies in some healthcare settings in Egypt Engy Mohamed El-Ghitany Azza Galal Farghaly Shehata Farag Mona H. Hashish Fahmy Charl Eman A. Omran 2022-06-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1186/s42506-022-00106-4 https://doaj.org/article/ea6eebfd9dcd419d9792c1bbdbc07f8a EN eng SpringerOpen https://doi.org/10.1186/s42506-022-00106-4 https://doaj.org/toc/2090-262X doi:10.1186/s42506-022-00106-4 2090-262X https://doaj.org/article/ea6eebfd9dcd419d9792c1bbdbc07f8a Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association, Vol 97, Iss 1, Pp 1-8 (2022) Anti-spike Healthcare workers COVID-19 Serosurveillance Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1186/s42506-022-00106-4 2022-12-30T23:13:43Z Abstract Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at the front line in battling infection transmission, such as that in coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Additionally, they may act as potential carriers passing the virus on to others. Anti-spike (anti-S) antibodies for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are formed either as a result of infection or vaccination with both indicating immunity against future COVID-19 infection. Aim This study aimed to identify the prevalence of COVID-19 seropositivity among HCWs. Methods This cross-sectional study included 559 HCWs from 39 hospitals with variable degrees of COVID-19 exposure risk (depending on the occupation, department, and hospital type). Demographic data were recorded as well as history of COVID-19 infection and vaccination. Serum samples were collected and tested for SARS-CoV-2 spike antibodies. Results Anti-S positivity was found in 59.0% of the participating 559 HCWs, indicating a high level of seroprotection. Of the 559 HCWs, 34.1% had reported previous infection with COVID-19. Following infection, only 46 (24.0%) of those affected received vaccination. Anti-S seropositivity was found in 39.1% of participants who were unvaccinated and had no history of infection. Physicians had the highest median anti-S titers (58.0 relative units (RU)/mL), whereas pharmacists and office staff had the lowest (25.7 and 38.2 RU/mL, respectively). Conclusions Overall, 59.0% of the 559 HCWs were anti-S positive, indicating a relatively high seroprotective status. Among those who were unvaccinated and had no history of infection, 39.1% were seropositive for anti-S, denoting a high rate of silent/asymptomatic infections. Screening of HCWs for SARS-CoV-2 anti-S is recommended, along with the vaccination of seronegative individuals. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association 97 1 |
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Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Anti-spike Healthcare workers COVID-19 Serosurveillance Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
spellingShingle |
Anti-spike Healthcare workers COVID-19 Serosurveillance Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Engy Mohamed El-Ghitany Azza Galal Farghaly Shehata Farag Mona H. Hashish Fahmy Charl Eman A. Omran Prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike antibodies in some healthcare settings in Egypt |
topic_facet |
Anti-spike Healthcare workers COVID-19 Serosurveillance Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
description |
Abstract Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at the front line in battling infection transmission, such as that in coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Additionally, they may act as potential carriers passing the virus on to others. Anti-spike (anti-S) antibodies for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are formed either as a result of infection or vaccination with both indicating immunity against future COVID-19 infection. Aim This study aimed to identify the prevalence of COVID-19 seropositivity among HCWs. Methods This cross-sectional study included 559 HCWs from 39 hospitals with variable degrees of COVID-19 exposure risk (depending on the occupation, department, and hospital type). Demographic data were recorded as well as history of COVID-19 infection and vaccination. Serum samples were collected and tested for SARS-CoV-2 spike antibodies. Results Anti-S positivity was found in 59.0% of the participating 559 HCWs, indicating a high level of seroprotection. Of the 559 HCWs, 34.1% had reported previous infection with COVID-19. Following infection, only 46 (24.0%) of those affected received vaccination. Anti-S seropositivity was found in 39.1% of participants who were unvaccinated and had no history of infection. Physicians had the highest median anti-S titers (58.0 relative units (RU)/mL), whereas pharmacists and office staff had the lowest (25.7 and 38.2 RU/mL, respectively). Conclusions Overall, 59.0% of the 559 HCWs were anti-S positive, indicating a relatively high seroprotective status. Among those who were unvaccinated and had no history of infection, 39.1% were seropositive for anti-S, denoting a high rate of silent/asymptomatic infections. Screening of HCWs for SARS-CoV-2 anti-S is recommended, along with the vaccination of seronegative individuals. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Engy Mohamed El-Ghitany Azza Galal Farghaly Shehata Farag Mona H. Hashish Fahmy Charl Eman A. Omran |
author_facet |
Engy Mohamed El-Ghitany Azza Galal Farghaly Shehata Farag Mona H. Hashish Fahmy Charl Eman A. Omran |
author_sort |
Engy Mohamed El-Ghitany |
title |
Prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike antibodies in some healthcare settings in Egypt |
title_short |
Prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike antibodies in some healthcare settings in Egypt |
title_full |
Prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike antibodies in some healthcare settings in Egypt |
title_fullStr |
Prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike antibodies in some healthcare settings in Egypt |
title_full_unstemmed |
Prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike antibodies in some healthcare settings in Egypt |
title_sort |
prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike antibodies in some healthcare settings in egypt |
publisher |
SpringerOpen |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s42506-022-00106-4 https://doaj.org/article/ea6eebfd9dcd419d9792c1bbdbc07f8a |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association, Vol 97, Iss 1, Pp 1-8 (2022) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s42506-022-00106-4 https://doaj.org/toc/2090-262X doi:10.1186/s42506-022-00106-4 2090-262X https://doaj.org/article/ea6eebfd9dcd419d9792c1bbdbc07f8a |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s42506-022-00106-4 |
container_title |
Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association |
container_volume |
97 |
container_issue |
1 |
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1766346603614961664 |