SARS-COV-2 Serological Profile in Healthcare Professionals of a Southern Italy Hospital

Armando De Carlo, Sergio Lo Caputo, Carmela Paolillo, Anna Maria Rosa, Umberto D’Orsi, Maria De Palma, Pierluigi Reveglia, Donato Lacedonia, Gilda Cinnella, Maria Pia Foschino, Maurizio Margaglione, Lucia Mirabella, Teresa Antonia Santantonio, Gaetano Corso and Vitangelo Dattoli
Additional contact information
Armando De Carlo: Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Policlinico Riuniti di Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
Sergio Lo Caputo: Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Policlinico Riuniti di Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
Carmela Paolillo: Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
Anna Maria Rosa: Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Policlinico Riuniti di Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
Umberto D’Orsi: Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Policlinico Riuniti di Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
Maria De Palma: Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Policlinico Riuniti di Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
Pierluigi Reveglia: Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
Donato Lacedonia: Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Policlinico Riuniti di Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
Gilda Cinnella: Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Policlinico Riuniti di Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
Maria Pia Foschino: Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Policlinico Riuniti di Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
Maurizio Margaglione: Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Policlinico Riuniti di Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
Lucia Mirabella: Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Policlinico Riuniti di Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
Teresa Antonia Santantonio: Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Policlinico Riuniti di Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
Gaetano Corso: Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Policlinico Riuniti di Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
Vitangelo Dattoli: Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Policlinico Riuniti di Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 24, 1-11

Abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the first coronavirus that has caused a pandemic. Assessing the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare worker groups offers a unique opportunity to study the correlation between seroconversion and immunization because of their occupational exposure and a higher risk of contagion. The study enrolled 3242 asymptomatic employees of “Policlinico Riuniti”, Foggia. After the first screening, we collected sequential serum samples for up to 23 weeks from the same subjects. In order to perform a longitudinal follow-up study and get information about the titration of IgG levels, we analyzed data from subjects (33) with at least two consecutive serological IgG—positive tests; 62 (1.9%; 95% CI: 1.4–2.3) tested positive for at least one anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody. The seroprevalence was lower in the high-risk group 1.4% (6/428; 95% CI: 0.5–2.6) vs. the intermediate-risk group 2.0% (55/2736; 95% CI: 1.5–2.5). Overall, within eight weeks, we detected a mean reduction of –17% in IgG levels. Our data suggest a reduction of about 9.27 AU/mL every week (R 2 = 0.35, p = 0.0003). This study revealed the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among Foggia’s hospital healthcare staff (1.9%). Moreover, the IgG level reduction suggests that the serological response fades fast in asymptomatic infections.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; asymptomatic; seroprevalence; healthcare worker; surveillance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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