tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Clin Infect Dis
. 2020 Oct 3;ciaa1471.
doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1471. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence survey among 17,971 healthcare and administrative personnel at hospitals, pre-hospital services, and specialist practitioners in the Central Denmark Region
Sanne Jespersen[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Susan Mikkelsen[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Thomas Greve[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Kathrine Agerg?rd Kaspersen[SUP] 2 4 [/SUP], Martin Tolstrup[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jens Kj?rgaard Boldsen[SUP] 2 4 [/SUP], Jacob Dvinge Redder[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Kent Nielsen[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Anders M?nsted Abildgaard[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Henrik Albert Kolstad[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Lars ?stergaard[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Marianne Kragh Thomsen[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Holger Jon M?ller[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Christian Erikstrup[SUP] 2 9 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: The objective of this study was to perform a seroprevalence survey on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among Danish healthcare workers to identify high risk groups.
Methods: All healthcare workers and administrative personnel at the seven hospitals, pre-hospital services and specialist practitioner clinics in the Central Denmark Region were invited to be tested by a commercial SARS-CoV-2 total antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co., Ltd., Beijing, China).
Results: A total of 25,950 participants were invited. Of these, 17,971 had samples available for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing. After adjustment for assay sensitivity and specificity, the overall seroprevalence was 3.4% (CI: 2.5%-3.8%). The seroprevalence was higher in the western part of the region than in the eastern part (11.9% vs 1.2%, difference: 10.7 percentage points, CI: 9.5-12.2). In the high prevalence area, the emergency departments had the highest seroprevalence (29.7%), while departments without patients or with limited patient contact had the lowest seroprevalence (2.2%). Among the total 668 seropositive participants, 433 (64.8%) had previously been tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, and 50.0% had a positive RT-PCR result.
Conclusions: We found large differences in the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in staff working in the healthcare sector within a small geographical area of Denmark. Half of all seropositive staff had been tested positive by PCR prior to this survey. This study raises awareness of precautions which should be taken to avoid in-hospital transmission. Regular testing of healthcare workers for SARS-CoV-2 should be considered to identify areas with increased transmission.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; antibody; healthcare workers; serology.
. 2020 Oct 3;ciaa1471.
doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1471. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence survey among 17,971 healthcare and administrative personnel at hospitals, pre-hospital services, and specialist practitioners in the Central Denmark Region
Sanne Jespersen[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Susan Mikkelsen[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Thomas Greve[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Kathrine Agerg?rd Kaspersen[SUP] 2 4 [/SUP], Martin Tolstrup[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jens Kj?rgaard Boldsen[SUP] 2 4 [/SUP], Jacob Dvinge Redder[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Kent Nielsen[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Anders M?nsted Abildgaard[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Henrik Albert Kolstad[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Lars ?stergaard[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Marianne Kragh Thomsen[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Holger Jon M?ller[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Christian Erikstrup[SUP] 2 9 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33011792
- DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1471
Abstract
Background: The objective of this study was to perform a seroprevalence survey on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among Danish healthcare workers to identify high risk groups.
Methods: All healthcare workers and administrative personnel at the seven hospitals, pre-hospital services and specialist practitioner clinics in the Central Denmark Region were invited to be tested by a commercial SARS-CoV-2 total antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co., Ltd., Beijing, China).
Results: A total of 25,950 participants were invited. Of these, 17,971 had samples available for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing. After adjustment for assay sensitivity and specificity, the overall seroprevalence was 3.4% (CI: 2.5%-3.8%). The seroprevalence was higher in the western part of the region than in the eastern part (11.9% vs 1.2%, difference: 10.7 percentage points, CI: 9.5-12.2). In the high prevalence area, the emergency departments had the highest seroprevalence (29.7%), while departments without patients or with limited patient contact had the lowest seroprevalence (2.2%). Among the total 668 seropositive participants, 433 (64.8%) had previously been tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, and 50.0% had a positive RT-PCR result.
Conclusions: We found large differences in the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in staff working in the healthcare sector within a small geographical area of Denmark. Half of all seropositive staff had been tested positive by PCR prior to this survey. This study raises awareness of precautions which should be taken to avoid in-hospital transmission. Regular testing of healthcare workers for SARS-CoV-2 should be considered to identify areas with increased transmission.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; antibody; healthcare workers; serology.