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Serologic Evaluation of Healthcare Workers Caring for COVID-19 Patients in the Republic of Korea
- Authors
- Ko, J.-H.[Ko, J.-H.]; Lee, J.Y.[Lee, J.Y.]; Kim, H.A.[Kim, H.A.]; Kang, S.-J.[Kang, S.-J.]; Baek, J.Y.[Baek, J.Y.]; Park, S.-J.[Park, S.-J.]; Hyun, M.[Hyun, M.]; Jo, I.J.[Jo, I.J.]; Chung, C.R.[Chung, C.R.]; Kim, Y.-J.[Kim, Y.-J.]; Kang, E.-S.[Kang, E.-S.]; Choi, Y.K.[Choi, Y.K.]; Chang, H.-H.[Chang, H.-H.]; Jung, S.I.[Jung, S.I.]; Peck, K.R.[Peck, K.R.]
- Issue Date
- 20-Nov-2020
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media S.A.
- Keywords
- antibody; COVID-19; healthcare worker; SARS-CoV-2; serology
- Citation
- Frontiers in Microbiology, v.11
- Indexed
- SCIE
SCOPUS
- Journal Title
- Frontiers in Microbiology
- Volume
- 11
- ISSN
- 1664-302X
- Abstract
- The safety of healthcare workers (HCWs) against severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission is an important aspect of managing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In the South Korea, highly stringent infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines are implemented, and reports of healthcare-associated SARS-CoV-2 transmission among HCWs are limited. However, subclinical infections may have been missed by the current symptom-based screening strategy. To evaluate the risk of undetected SARS-CoV-2 transmissions from COVID-19 patients to HCWs, we conducted a multicenter seroprevalence study after the first surge of the COVID-19 outbreak. A total of 432 HCWs were evaluated, comprising 309 HCWs designated to laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patient care and 123 non-designated HCWs. Designated HCWs wore personal protective equipment including an N95 respirator, eye protection, hooded overalls, shoe covers, and inner and outer gloves. Use of a powered air-purifying respirator was recommended for aerosol-generating procedures or long-duration care activities. A high-sensitivity (99.1%) fluorescence immunoassay immunoglobulin G (IgG) kit was used as the initial screening test, and two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits for total and IgG antibodies were used to confirm the test results. A microneutralization test was additionally performed to evaluate the neutralizing activity of positive specimens. Among the evaluated HCWs, none of the non-designated HCWs had a positive result, while one of the HCWs designated for COVID-19 patient care (1/309, 0.3%) was seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 with confirmed neutralizing activity (1:40). This finding suggests that subclinical seroconversion may occur among HCWs caring for COVID-19 patients, although the risk is low under strict IPC guidance. © Copyright © 2020 Ko, Lee, Kim, Kang, Baek, Park, Hyun, Jo, Chung, Kim, Kang, Choi, Chang, Jung and Peck.
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Related Researcher
- CHUNG, CHI RYANG
- Medicine (Medicine)