tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Influenza Other Respir Viruses
. 2024 Feb;18(2):e13239.
doi: 10.1111/irv.13239. High seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 among healthcare workers in Yaoundé, Cameroon after the first wave of Covid-19 pandemic and associated factors
Mathurin Cyrille Tejiokem[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hermine Abessolo Abessolo[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Joseph Mendimi Nkodo[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Mireille Ouethy[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Georges Bouting Mayaka[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Yannick Touha[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Ulrich Armel Dikoume[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Jules Brice Tchatchueng-Mbougua[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Diane Choualeu Noumbissi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], William Tsobeng Ndjeukam[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hervé Odilon Otabela Mbarga[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Paul Alain Tagnouokam Ngoupo[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Charlotte Moussi[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Bonaventure Hollong Garoua[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Richard Njouom[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Vincent Richard[SUP] 8 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: Healthcare workers (HWs) are at a high risk of exposure to emerging health threats. Following the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Cameroon, we explored the presence and persistence of naturally acquired antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the factors associated with seropositivity in HWs.
Methods: Staff at two referral hospitals in Yaoundé or two Health District Hospitals in Obala and Mbalmayo were included in a 6-month prospective cohort analysis or cross-sectional survey, respectively. Seroprevalence and associated factors were determined, and Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess antibody persistence or positive seroconversion over time.
Results: From August 2020 to March 2021, 426 HWs (median age: 31 years, interquartile range: 27-37 years; 66.4% female) were enrolled. The overall seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 54.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 49.1-58.8) and was significantly different between study sites (p = 0.04). Of the 216 HWs included in the 6-month cohort, 109 (50.5%) HWs were seropositive at inclusion; the probability of persistent antibodies or of becoming seropositive was 93.8% (95% CI: 84.2-100) and 78.9% (95% CI: 61.7-88.4), respectively. Seroconversion was associated with study site and occupation but not with infection prevention and control (IPC) practices.
Conclusions: We observed high seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody and seroconversion among HWs associated with occupational risk. This suggests low compliance to the COVID-19 control measures. Continued training and implementation of IPC measures and accelerated preparedness are needed to better tackle future threats.
Keywords: Cameroon; SARS-CoV-2 infection antibody testing; antibody persistence; health personnel; seroepidemiologic studies.
. 2024 Feb;18(2):e13239.
doi: 10.1111/irv.13239. High seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 among healthcare workers in Yaoundé, Cameroon after the first wave of Covid-19 pandemic and associated factors
Mathurin Cyrille Tejiokem[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hermine Abessolo Abessolo[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Joseph Mendimi Nkodo[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Mireille Ouethy[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Georges Bouting Mayaka[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Yannick Touha[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Ulrich Armel Dikoume[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Jules Brice Tchatchueng-Mbougua[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Diane Choualeu Noumbissi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], William Tsobeng Ndjeukam[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hervé Odilon Otabela Mbarga[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Paul Alain Tagnouokam Ngoupo[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Charlotte Moussi[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Bonaventure Hollong Garoua[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Richard Njouom[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Vincent Richard[SUP] 8 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 38342486
- DOI: 10.1111/irv.13239
Background: Healthcare workers (HWs) are at a high risk of exposure to emerging health threats. Following the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Cameroon, we explored the presence and persistence of naturally acquired antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the factors associated with seropositivity in HWs.
Methods: Staff at two referral hospitals in Yaoundé or two Health District Hospitals in Obala and Mbalmayo were included in a 6-month prospective cohort analysis or cross-sectional survey, respectively. Seroprevalence and associated factors were determined, and Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess antibody persistence or positive seroconversion over time.
Results: From August 2020 to March 2021, 426 HWs (median age: 31 years, interquartile range: 27-37 years; 66.4% female) were enrolled. The overall seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 54.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 49.1-58.8) and was significantly different between study sites (p = 0.04). Of the 216 HWs included in the 6-month cohort, 109 (50.5%) HWs were seropositive at inclusion; the probability of persistent antibodies or of becoming seropositive was 93.8% (95% CI: 84.2-100) and 78.9% (95% CI: 61.7-88.4), respectively. Seroconversion was associated with study site and occupation but not with infection prevention and control (IPC) practices.
Conclusions: We observed high seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody and seroconversion among HWs associated with occupational risk. This suggests low compliance to the COVID-19 control measures. Continued training and implementation of IPC measures and accelerated preparedness are needed to better tackle future threats.
Keywords: Cameroon; SARS-CoV-2 infection antibody testing; antibody persistence; health personnel; seroepidemiologic studies.