RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies among operating room and critical care staff at a tertiary teaching hospital
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 742
OP 749
DO 10.15537/smj.2021.42.7.20210348
VO 42
IS 7
A1 Farsi, Sara H.
A1 Alandijany, Thamir A.
A1 Radwi, Mansoor
A1 Farsi, Ali
A1 Bahaaziq, Wadeeah
A1 Abushoshah, Ibrahim
A1 El-Kafrawy, Sherif A.
A1 Alsayed, Salma
A1 Azhar, Esam I.
A1 Boker, Abdulaziz
YR 2021
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/42/7/742.abstract
AB Objectives: To identify the prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies among operating room and critical care staff.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 319 Healthcare workers employed in the operation theater and intensive care unit of King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), a tertiary teaching hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between August 9, 2020 and November 2, 2020. All participants completed a 20-item questionnaire on demographic data and COVID-19 risk factors and provided blood samples. Antibody testing was performed using an in-house enzyme immunoassay and microneutralization test.Results: Of the 319 participants, 39 had detectable COVID-19 antibodies. Five of them had never experienced any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, and only 19 were previously diagnosed with COVID-19. The odds of developing COVID-19 or having corresponding antibodies increased if participants experienced COVID-19 symptoms (odds ratio [OR], 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-7.5) or reported contact with an infected family member (OR, 5.3; 95% CI, 2.5-11.2). Disease acquisition was not associated with employment in the ICU and involvement in the intubation of or close contact with COVID-19 patients. Of the 19 previously diagnosed participants, 6 did not possess any detectable COVID-19 antibodies.Conclusions: Healthcare workers may have undiagnosed COVID-19, and those previously infected may not have long-lasting immunity. Therefore, hospitals must continue to uphold strict infection control during the COVID-19 pandemic.