Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection at the University of Barcelona during the Third COVID-19 Pandemic Wave in Spain

Sebastián Videla, Aurema Otero, Sara Martí, M. Ángeles Domínguez, Nuria Fabrellas, M. Pilar Delgado-Hito, Imma Cruz, Cristian Tebé, Teresa Vinuesa, Fernando Ardila, Marta Sancho, Esteve Fernández, Montserrat Figuerola and Francisco Ciruela
Additional contact information
Sebastián Videla: Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
Aurema Otero: Clinical Research Support Unit (HUB-IDIBELL), Clinical Pharmacology Department, Bellvitge University Hospital, L’Hospitalet del Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
Sara Martí: Microbiology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
M. Ángeles Domínguez: Microbiology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
Nuria Fabrellas: Department of Public Health Nursing, Mental Health and Maternal and Childhood, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
M. Pilar Delgado-Hito: Department of Fundamental and Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, GRIN-IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
Imma Cruz: OSSMA (Oficina de Seguretat, Salut i Medi Ambient), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Cristian Tebé: Biostatistical Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
Teresa Vinuesa: Microbiology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
Fernando Ardila: UICEC-IDIBELL (Clinical Research Organization), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
Marta Sancho: Gerència Territorial Metropolitana Sud, Catalan Institute of Health, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
Esteve Fernández: Consortium for Biomedical Research in Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), 28029 Madrid, Spain
Montserrat Figuerola: Gerència Territorial Metropolitana Sud, Catalan Institute of Health, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
Francisco Ciruela: Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-12

Abstract: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic started in December 2019 and still is a major global health challenge. Lockdown measures and social distancing sparked a global shift towards online learning, which deeply impacted universities’ daily life, and the University of Barcelona (UB) was not an exception. Accordingly, we aimed to determine the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic at the UB. To that end, we performed a cross-sectional study on a sample of 2784 UB members ( n = 52,529). Participants answered a brief, ad hoc, online epidemiological questionnaire and provided a nasal swab for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) SARS-CoV-2 analysis and a venous blood sample for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody assay. Total prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection (positive RT-PCR or positive IgG) was 14.9% (95%CI 13.3 to 17.0%). Forty-four participants (1.6%, 95%CI: 1.2–2.1%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR. IgG against SARS-CoV-2 was observed in 12.8% (95%CI: 11.6–14.1%) of participants. Overall, while waiting for population vaccination and/or increased herd immunity, we should concentrate on identifying and isolating new cases and their contacts.

Keywords: coronavirus; seroprevalence; SARS-CoV-2; infection status; university community; COVID-19 prevalence; faculty members; Spain; students; administrative and service staff (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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