SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among the Health Care Staff of an Ophthalmological Reference Centre, a Cross Sectional Study

• Published in: Ophthalmic epidemiology Vol. 29; no. 5; pp. 483 - 490
• Main Authors: Magaña-Guerrero, Fátima Sofía, Trujillo, Diana Hinojosa, Buentello-Volante, Beatriz, Aguayo-Flores, José Eduardo, Melgoza-González, Edgar Alonso, Hernández, Jesús, Jiménez-Martínez, María C., Pérez-Tapia, Sonia Mayra, Garfias, Yonathan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 03-09-2022
• Subjects: COVID-19; HCW; ophthalmology; SARS-CoV-2; seroprevalence; COVID-19; seroprevalence; SARS-CoV-2; ophthalmology; HCW
• ISSN: 0928-6586; 1744-5086
• DOI: 10.1080/09286586.2021.1974493

During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) are at a considerable risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2; among them, HCWs from ophthalmology departments are more prone to develop severe symptoms. In Mexico City, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs is 30%. The present work aims to describe the seroprevalence among HCWs at an Ophthalmological Reference Centre in Mexico City.
A self-report questionnaire, RT-PCR test and detection of serum IgG/IgM antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were performed among HCWs at the Institute of Ophthalmology "Conde de Valenciana".
A total of 169 HCWs participated in the study. None of the participants declared severe symptoms, and only 15% showed three or more symptoms. The results showed that 32% of the participants were RT-PCR
+
(54/169), and 20% (35/169) presented IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Thirteen percent of the RT-PCR
+
subjects were IgG positive, and 7.6% of the RT-PCR
−
participants were IgG positive. The presence of three or more symptoms correlated with the presence of IgG antibodies, as well as Ct values of < 32 (p < 0,05).
Most of the HCW cohort showed mild symptoms, and 69% of the RT-PCR
+
participants did not show IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Seroprevalence was significantly associated with the presentation of COVID-19-associated symptoms.