Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Binding and Neutralizing Antibodies in Healthcare Workers during the Epidemic Peak in Referral Hospitals and Quarantine Sites: Saudi Arabia
oleh: Rowa Y. Alhabbab, Ahdab Alsaieedi, Abdullah Algaissi, Sara Almahboub, Rajaa M. Al-Raddadi, Omaima I. Shabouni, Rahaf Alhabbab, Abdulelah A. Alfaraj, Sawsan S. Alamri, Najwa D. Aljehani, Rwaa H. Abdulal, Mohamed A. Alfaleh, Turki S. Abujamel, Almohanad A. Alkayyal, Ahmad Bakur Mahmoud, Adel M. Abuzenadah, Anwar M. Hashem
| Format: | Article |
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| Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2021-07-01 |
Deskripsi
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to the general population. Here, we aimed to evaluate and characterize the SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity rate in randomly collected samples among HCWs from the largest referral hospitals and quarantine sites during the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic in the city of Jeddah, the second largest city in Saudi Arabia, using a cross-sectional analytic study design. Out of 693 participants recruited from 29 June to 10 August 2020, 223 (32.2%, 95% CI: 28.8–35.8) were found to be confirmed seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, and among those 197 (88.3%) had never been diagnosed with COVID-19. Seropositivity was not significantly associated with participants reporting COVID-19 compatible symptoms as most seropositive HCW participants 140 (62.8%) were asymptomatic. The large proportion of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 cases detected in our study demands periodic testing as a general hospital policy.