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Cureus
. 2021 Mar 21;13(3):e14020.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.14020.
Serosurveillance of Health Care Workers in a COVID Hospital: Immune Response, and Its Longevity
Minakshi Mishra 1 , Rajan Chaudhry 2 , Farah Rana 1 , Deb Sanjay Nag 3 , Sudhir Rai 2
Affiliations
- PMID: 33898113
- PMCID: PMC8057696
- DOI: 10.7759/cureus.14020
Abstract
Objective: We aimed to study the seroprevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and sustainability of the immune response in health care workers (HCWs). A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 7 and November 30, 2020, in a multi-specialty hospital in Eastern India designated as COVID hospital during this pandemic. Study participants included 2,110 HCWs, including those who have recovered from COVID infection.
Method: HCWs were required to complete a questionnaire and give written consent to participate in the study. Their venous blood sample was collected for serum analysis of IgG antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by chemiluminescent immunoassay.
Results: Positive IgG antibodies were seen in 924 participants with a point prevalence of 43.79%. Slightly higher reactivity was seen in males. History of COVID-19 infection was noted in 10.9%, with the highest antibody response in 81% cases. A maximum of 87.9% reactivity was seen in the first two months, and a significant fall was noted in the fourth month, with reactivity seen in only 50% of the study participants.
Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with a variable immune response in the infected population. The declining trend of the antibodies correlates with short-lived protective immunity and the possibility of re-infection. Further studies are needed to explore the probable reasons for varied seroprevalence.
Keywords: antibody; covid-19; healthcare workers; immunological response; sars-cov-2; seroprevalence.