SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in healthcare workers of dedicated-COVID hospitals and non–COVID hospitals of District Srinagar, Kashmir
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Abstract
Background and objective
SARS-CoV-2 infection poses tremendous challenge to the healthcare system of nations across the globe. Serological testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers, which form a high-risk group, helps in identifying the burden of hidden infection in an institutional setting.
Methods
We present the results of a cross-sectional serosurvey in healthcare workers from two different hospital settings based on their role in the management of SARS-CoV-2 patients in District Srinagar, Kashmir. In addition to testing for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG, we collected information on influenza-like symptoms in the last four weeks and the status of RT-PCR testing. SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies were detected in serum samples using a sensitive and specific chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay technology.
Interpretation and Conclusion
Of 2915 healthcare workers who participated in the study, we analysed data from 2905 healthcare workers. The overall prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies was 2.5% (95% CI 2.0-3.1) in the healthcare workers of District Srinagar. Healthcare workers who had ever worked at a dedicated-COVID hospital had a substantially lower seroprevalence of 0.6% (95% CI: 0.2 - 1.9). Among healthcare workers who had tested positive for RT-PCR, seroprevalence was 27.6% (95% CI: 14.0 - 47.2).The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers of District Srinagar is low, reflecting that a high proportion of healthcare workers are still susceptible to the infection. It is crucial to lay thrust on infection prevention and control activities and standard hygiene practices by the healthcare staff to protect them from acquiring infection within the healthcare setting.
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SciScore for 10.1101/2020.10.23.20218164: (What is this?)
Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.
Table 1: Rigor
Institutional Review Board Statement Consent: Ethics approval and consent to participate: The Institutional Ethics Committee of Government Medical College Srinagar approved the study (Ref. No. 1003/ETH/GMC dated 13-05-2020). Randomization not detected. Blinding not detected. Power Analysis not detected. Sex as a biological variable not detected. Table 2: Resources
Antibodies Sentences Resources Laboratory procedure: We used a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) based procedure for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies in serum samples. SARS-CoV-2 specific IgGsuggested: NoneResults from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged …
SciScore for 10.1101/2020.10.23.20218164: (What is this?)
Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.
Table 1: Rigor
Institutional Review Board Statement Consent: Ethics approval and consent to participate: The Institutional Ethics Committee of Government Medical College Srinagar approved the study (Ref. No. 1003/ETH/GMC dated 13-05-2020). Randomization not detected. Blinding not detected. Power Analysis not detected. Sex as a biological variable not detected. Table 2: Resources
Antibodies Sentences Resources Laboratory procedure: We used a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) based procedure for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies in serum samples. SARS-CoV-2 specific IgGsuggested: NoneResults from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).
Results from LimitationRecognizer: We detected the following sentences addressing limitations in the study:Limitations: We did not collect information on the timing of symptoms and the date at which the healthcare workers became RT-PCR positive.With a cross-sectional study design, we cannot ascertain the reconversion from initial IgG positive to IgG negative status, which warrants a cohort study. Participation in the survey was voluntary. There is thus a possibility of selection bias. Some healthcare workers with recent exposure or those who were symptomatic at the time of the study might not have participated, thinking that they would not benefit by IgG testing in the early phase of infection.
Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.
Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.
Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.
Results from rtransparent:- Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
- Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
- No protocol registration statement was detected.
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