Large variation in anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence among essential workers in Geneva, Switzerland

Silvia Stringhini (), María-Eugenia Zaballa, Nick Pullen, Carlos de Mestral, Javier Perez-Saez, Roxane Dumont, Attilio Picazio, Francesco Pennacchio, Yaron Dibner, Sabine Yerly, Helene Baysson, Nicolas Vuilleumier, Jean-François Balavoine, Delphine Bachmann, Didier Trono, Didier Pittet, François Chappuis, Omar Kherad, Laurent Kaiser, Andrew S. Azman and Idris Guessous
Additional contact information
Silvia Stringhini: Geneva University Hospitals
María-Eugenia Zaballa: Geneva University Hospitals
Nick Pullen: Geneva University Hospitals
Carlos de Mestral: Geneva University Hospitals
Javier Perez-Saez: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Roxane Dumont: Geneva University Hospitals
Attilio Picazio: Geneva University Hospitals
Francesco Pennacchio: Geneva University Hospitals
Yaron Dibner: Geneva University Hospitals
Sabine Yerly: Geneva University Hospitals
Helene Baysson: Geneva University Hospitals
Nicolas Vuilleumier: University of Geneva
Jean-François Balavoine: University of Geneva
Delphine Bachmann: Hirslanden Clinique des Grangettes and Hirslanden Clinique La Colline
Didier Trono: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Didier Pittet: Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine
François Chappuis: Geneva University Hospitals
Omar Kherad: Hôpital de la Tour and Faculty of Medicine
Laurent Kaiser: Geneva University Hospitals
Andrew S. Azman: Geneva University Hospitals
Idris Guessous: University of Geneva

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Limited data exist on SARS-CoV-2 infection rates across sectors and occupations, hindering our ability to make rational policy, including vaccination prioritization, to protect workers and limit SARS-CoV-2 spread. Here, we present results from our SEROCoV-WORK + study, a serosurvey of workers recruited after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Geneva, Switzerland. We tested workers (May 18—September 18, 2020) from 16 sectors and 32 occupations for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies. Of 10,513 participants, 1026 (9.8%) tested positive. The seropositivity rate ranged from 4.2% in the media sector to 14.3% in the nursing home sector. We found considerable within-sector variability: nursing home (0%–31.4%), homecare (3.9%–12.6%), healthcare (0%–23.5%), public administration (2.6%–24.6%), and public security (0%–16.7%). Seropositivity rates also varied across occupations, from 15.0% among kitchen staff and 14.4% among nurses, to 5.4% among domestic care workers and 2.8% among journalists. Our findings show that seropositivity rates varied widely across sectors, between facilities within sectors, and across occupations, reflecting a higher exposure in certain sectors and occupations.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23796-4

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