tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Arab J Gastroenterol
. 2020 Jul 21;S1687-1979(20)30076-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajg.2020.07.005. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers of a gastroenterological service in a tertiary care facility
Abdel Meguid Kassem[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hala Talaat[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Shereen Shawky[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Rabab Fouad[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Khaled Amer[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Tarek Elnagdy[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Wael A Hassan[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Omnia Tantawi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Reham Abdelmoniem[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yasmine Gaber[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hedy A Badary[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sherief Musa[SUP] 5 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background and study aims: Frontlines healthcare workers (HCWs) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are at increased risk of infection by SARS-CoV-2, but there are limited data on the prevalence of COVID-19 among HCWs in Egypt. This study aimed to assess SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs providing gastroenterological services.
Subjects and methods: Seventy-four HCWs at the gastroenterological service of Al-Manial University Hospital, the main hospital of the largest tertiary university hospitals complex in Egypt (Kasr Al-Ainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University) were tested using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on nasopharyngeal samples, and rapid serological IgM/IgG tests (RST). A questionnaire was used to collect demographic, occupational and clinical data.
Results: Of the 74 HCWs, 10 tested positive by RT-PCR (13.5%). In 9/74 (12.2%) HCWs, antibodies could be detected by RST: three with both IgM and IgG lines; six with IgM line only and none with IgG line only. Frequency of positive tests was more among subjects with minor symptoms compared to completely asymptomatic HCWs (50% vs 16.1%, respectively). Neither age, gender or occupation was a risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Conclusions: Point prevalence of COVID-19 in gastroenterology HCWs is 13.5% by RT-PCR. Continued measures are warranted to assure HCWs safety and reduce transmission from healthcare settings to the community during COVID-19 pandemic. Presence of positive test results among asymptomatic HCWs illustrates the importance of screening all HCWs irrespective of symptoms.
Keywords: COVID-19; GI endoscopy; HCWs; SARS-CoV-2.
. 2020 Jul 21;S1687-1979(20)30076-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajg.2020.07.005. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers of a gastroenterological service in a tertiary care facility
Abdel Meguid Kassem[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hala Talaat[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Shereen Shawky[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Rabab Fouad[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Khaled Amer[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Tarek Elnagdy[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Wael A Hassan[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Omnia Tantawi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Reham Abdelmoniem[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yasmine Gaber[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hedy A Badary[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sherief Musa[SUP] 5 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 32732168
- PMCID: PMC7373030
- DOI: 10.1016/j.ajg.2020.07.005
Abstract
Background and study aims: Frontlines healthcare workers (HCWs) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are at increased risk of infection by SARS-CoV-2, but there are limited data on the prevalence of COVID-19 among HCWs in Egypt. This study aimed to assess SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs providing gastroenterological services.
Subjects and methods: Seventy-four HCWs at the gastroenterological service of Al-Manial University Hospital, the main hospital of the largest tertiary university hospitals complex in Egypt (Kasr Al-Ainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University) were tested using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on nasopharyngeal samples, and rapid serological IgM/IgG tests (RST). A questionnaire was used to collect demographic, occupational and clinical data.
Results: Of the 74 HCWs, 10 tested positive by RT-PCR (13.5%). In 9/74 (12.2%) HCWs, antibodies could be detected by RST: three with both IgM and IgG lines; six with IgM line only and none with IgG line only. Frequency of positive tests was more among subjects with minor symptoms compared to completely asymptomatic HCWs (50% vs 16.1%, respectively). Neither age, gender or occupation was a risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Conclusions: Point prevalence of COVID-19 in gastroenterology HCWs is 13.5% by RT-PCR. Continued measures are warranted to assure HCWs safety and reduce transmission from healthcare settings to the community during COVID-19 pandemic. Presence of positive test results among asymptomatic HCWs illustrates the importance of screening all HCWs irrespective of symptoms.
Keywords: COVID-19; GI endoscopy; HCWs; SARS-CoV-2.