SARS-CoV-2 testing among patients and healthcare professionals in an HIV outpatient clinic in Brazil

• Published in: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo Vol. 64; pp. e3 - 5
• Main Authors: Matsuda, Elaine Monteiro, Oliveira, Isabela Penteriche de, Campos, Ivana Barros de, Ahagon, Cintia Mayumi, Castejon, Marcia Jorge, Silva, Valeria Oliveira, Manzoni, Fernanda Matsuda, López-Lopes, Giselle Ibette, Brígido, Luís Fernando de Macedo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo 01-01-2022; Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo
• Subjects: Ambulatory Care Facilities; Antibodies; Antigens; Asymptomatic; Brazil; Brief Communication; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 Testing; COVID-19 vaccines; Delivery of Health Care; Diagnostic tests; Disease prevention; Disease transmission; Estimates; HIV; HIV Infections; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Immunoassay; Infections; Outpatient care facilities; Pandemics; Population; SARS-CoV-2; Serology; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Brazil; SARS-CoV-2; Health care personals; PEP; Prevalence; PrEP; HIV
• ISSN: 1678-9946; 0036-4665; 1678-9946
• DOI: 10.1590/S1678-9946202264003

The COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil has been marked by high infection and death rates. The immune response generated by current vaccination might be influenced by previous natural infection, and baseline estimates may help in the evaluation of vaccine-induced serological response. We evaluated previous SARS-CoV-2 testing (RT-PCR), and performed rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) and high throughput electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) before vaccination among people living with HIV (PLWH), users of antiretroviral prophylaxis (PrEP/PEP), and healthcare professionals in an HIV outpatient clinic (HCP-HC). RDT was positive in 25.7% (95% CI: 19-33%) overall, 31.3% (95% CI : 18-45%) among PLWH, 23.7% (95% CI : 14-34%) in PrEP/PEP users and 21.4% (95% CI : 05-28%) in HCP-HC (p=0.548). Diagnostic RT-PCR testing was very limited, even for symptomatic individuals, and whereas all HCP-HC had one test perfomed, only 35% of the patients (PREP/PEP/PLWH) were tested (p<0.0001). Adequate monitoring of post-vaccination humoral response and breakthrough infections including those in asymptomatic cases are warranted, especially in immunologically compromised individuals.