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. 2020 Oct;31(7):841-847.
doi: 10.1111/pai.13278. Epub 2020 Jun 18.

Symptoms and immunoglobulin development in hospital staff exposed to a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak

Susanne Brandstetter  1   2 , Samra Roth  1 , Susanne Harner  1 , Heike Buntrock-Döpke  1   2 , Antoaneta A Toncheva  2 , Natascha Borchers  2 , Rudolf Gruber  3 , Andreas Ambrosch  3 , Michael Kabesch  1   2
Affiliations

Symptoms and immunoglobulin development in hospital staff exposed to a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak

Susanne Brandstetter et al. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2020 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Worldwide, the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections is increasing. Serological immunoglobulin tests may help to better understand the development of immune mechanisms against SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 cases and exposed but asymptomatic individuals. The aim of this study was to investigate exposure to SARS-CoV-2, symptoms, and antibody responses in a large sample of healthcare workers following a COVID-19 outbreak.

Methods: A COVID-19 outbreak among staff members of a major German children's and women's hospital was followed by massive RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 tests and provided the opportunity to study symptoms, chains of infection, and SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody responses (IgG and IgA) by ELISA. Study participants were classified as COVID-19 cases, and persons with close, moderate, or no exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in the clinical setting, respectively.

Results: Out of 201 study participants, 31 were COVID-19 cases. While most study participants experienced many symptoms indicative for SARS-CoV-2 infection, anosmia and coughing were remarkably more frequent in COVID-19 cases. Approximately 80% of COVID-19 cases developed some specific antibody response (IgA and IgG) approximately 3 weeks after onset of symptoms. Subjects in the non-COVID-19 groups had also elevated IgG (1.8%) and IgA values (7.6%) irrespective of contact history with cases.

Conclusion: We found that a significant number of diseased did not develop relevant antibody responses three weeks after symptom onset. Our data also suggest that exposure to COVID-19 positive co-workers in a hospital setting is not leading to the development of measurable immune responses in a significant proportion of asymptomatic contact persons.

Keywords: COVID-19 outbreak; COVID-19 pandemic; SARS-CoV-2; antibody response; healthcare workers; immunoglobulin development; infection chain.

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References

REFERENCES

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