tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Infect Dis
. 2020 Nov 28;jiaa737.
doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa737. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2-specific neutralizing antibody responses in Norwegian healthcare workers after the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic: a prospective cohort study
Mai-Chi Trieu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Amit Bansal[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Anders Madsen[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Fan Zhou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Marianne S?vik[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Juha Vahokoski[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Karl Albert Brokstad[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Florian Krammer[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Camilla T?ndel[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Kristin G I Mohn[SUP] 1 7 [/SUP], Bj?rn Blomberg[SUP] 8 9 2 [/SUP], Nina Langeland[SUP] 8 9 2 [/SUP], Rebecca J Cox[SUP] 1 10 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many countries experienced infection in healthcare workers (HCW) due to overburdened healthcare systems. However, whether infected HCW acquire protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 is unclear. Here, we characterized SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody responses in Norwegian HCW in a prospective cohort study.
Methods: We enrolled 607 HCW pre- and post-the first COVID-19-pandemic wave. Exposure history, COVID-19-like symptoms and serum samples were collected. SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies were characterized by spike-protein IgG/IgM/IgA enzyme-linked immunosorbent and live-virus neutralization assays.
Results: Spike-specific IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies increased after the first pandemic wave in HCW with COVID-19-patient exposure, but not in HCW without patient exposure. Thirty-two HCW (5.3%) had spike-specific antibodies (11 seroconverted with ≥4-fold increase, 21 were seropositive at baseline). Neutralizing antibodies were found in 11 HCW that seroconverted, of whom 4 (36.4%) were asymptomatic. Ninety-seven HCW were tested by reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) during follow-up, 8 were positive (7 seroconverted and 1 had undetectable antibodies).
Conclusions: We found increases in SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies in infected HCW, especially after COVID-19-patient exposure. Our data show a low number of SARS-CoV-2-seropositive HCW in a low prevalence setting, however, the proportion of seropositivity was higher than RT-PCR positivity, highlighting the importance of antibody testing.
Keywords: COVID-19; Healthcare workers; IgA; IgG; IgM; SARS-CoV-2; antibody characterization; neutralizing antibody; seroconversion; spike protein.
. 2020 Nov 28;jiaa737.
doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa737. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2-specific neutralizing antibody responses in Norwegian healthcare workers after the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic: a prospective cohort study
Mai-Chi Trieu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Amit Bansal[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Anders Madsen[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Fan Zhou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Marianne S?vik[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Juha Vahokoski[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Karl Albert Brokstad[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Florian Krammer[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Camilla T?ndel[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Kristin G I Mohn[SUP] 1 7 [/SUP], Bj?rn Blomberg[SUP] 8 9 2 [/SUP], Nina Langeland[SUP] 8 9 2 [/SUP], Rebecca J Cox[SUP] 1 10 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33247924
- DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa737
Abstract
Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many countries experienced infection in healthcare workers (HCW) due to overburdened healthcare systems. However, whether infected HCW acquire protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 is unclear. Here, we characterized SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody responses in Norwegian HCW in a prospective cohort study.
Methods: We enrolled 607 HCW pre- and post-the first COVID-19-pandemic wave. Exposure history, COVID-19-like symptoms and serum samples were collected. SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies were characterized by spike-protein IgG/IgM/IgA enzyme-linked immunosorbent and live-virus neutralization assays.
Results: Spike-specific IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies increased after the first pandemic wave in HCW with COVID-19-patient exposure, but not in HCW without patient exposure. Thirty-two HCW (5.3%) had spike-specific antibodies (11 seroconverted with ≥4-fold increase, 21 were seropositive at baseline). Neutralizing antibodies were found in 11 HCW that seroconverted, of whom 4 (36.4%) were asymptomatic. Ninety-seven HCW were tested by reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) during follow-up, 8 were positive (7 seroconverted and 1 had undetectable antibodies).
Conclusions: We found increases in SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies in infected HCW, especially after COVID-19-patient exposure. Our data show a low number of SARS-CoV-2-seropositive HCW in a low prevalence setting, however, the proportion of seropositivity was higher than RT-PCR positivity, highlighting the importance of antibody testing.
Keywords: COVID-19; Healthcare workers; IgA; IgG; IgM; SARS-CoV-2; antibody characterization; neutralizing antibody; seroconversion; spike protein.