Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in a Large Cohort of Italian Police Officers

Sergio Garbarino, Alexander Domnich, Elisabetta Costa, Irene Giberti, Stefano Mosca, Cristiano Belfiore, Fabrizio Ciprani and Giancarlo Icardi
Additional contact information
Sergio Garbarino: Italy State Police Health Service Department, Ministry of Interior, 00198 Rome, Italy
Alexander Domnich: Hygiene Unit, San Martino Policlinico Hospital-IRCCS for Oncology and Neurosciences, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Elisabetta Costa: Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Irene Giberti: Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Stefano Mosca: Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Cristiano Belfiore: Italy State Police Health Service Department, Ministry of Interior, 00198 Rome, Italy
Fabrizio Ciprani: Italy State Police Health Service Department, Ministry of Interior, 00198 Rome, Italy
Giancarlo Icardi: Hygiene Unit, San Martino Policlinico Hospital-IRCCS for Oncology and Neurosciences, 16132 Genoa, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 22, 1-9

Abstract: Certain professional categories are at a high occupational exposure to COVID-19. The aim of this survey was to quantify the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among police officers in Italy and identify its correlates. In this cross-sectional study, a nationally representative sample of State police employees was tested for IgG and IgM before the start of the National vaccination campaign. A total of 10,535 subjects (approximately 10% of the total workforce) participated in the study. The overall seroprevalence was 4.8% (95% CI: 4.4–5.3%). However, seropositivity was unevenly distributed across the country with a clear ( p < 0.001) North–South gradient. In particular, the seroprevalence was 5.6 times higher in northern regions than in southern regions (9.0% vs. 1.6%). Most (71.2%) seropositive subjects reported having no recent symptoms potentially attributable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Previous dysosmia, dysgeusia, and influenza-like illness symptoms were positive predictors of being seropositive. However, the prognostic value of dysosmia depended ( p < 0.05) on both sex and prior influenza-like illness. The baseline seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in police employees is considerable. A significant risk of occupational exposure, frequent asymptomatic cases and the progressive waning of neutralizing antibodies suggest that the police workers should be considered among the job categories prioritized for the booster COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; seroprevalence; police officers; occupational exposure; Italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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