Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Jan 29;74(2):288-293.
doi: 10.1093/cid/ciab346.

Seroprevalence of Antibodies to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Among Healthcare Workers in Kenya

Anthony O Etyang  1 , Ruth Lucinde  1 , Henry Karanja  1 , Catherine Kalu  1 , Daisy Mugo  1 , James Nyagwange  1 , John Gitonga  1 , James Tuju  1 , Perpetual Wanjiku  1 , Angela Karani  1 , Shadrack Mutua  1 , Hosea Maroko  2 , Eddy Nzomo  3 , Eric Maitha  4 , Evanson Kamuri  5 , Thuranira Kaugiria  5 , Justus Weru  5 , Lucy B Ochola  6 , Nelson Kilimo  7 , Sande Charo  8 , Namdala Emukule  9 , Wycliffe Moracha  10 , David Mukabi  10 , Rosemary Okuku  10 , Monicah Ogutu  10 , Barrack Angujo  1 , Mark Otiende  1 , Christian Bottomley  11 , Edward Otieno  1 , Leonard Ndwiga  1 , Amek Nyaguara  1 , Shirine Voller  1   11 , Charles N Agoti  1 , David James Nokes  1 , Lynette Isabella Ochola-Oyier  1 , Rashid Aman  12 , Patrick Amoth  12 , Mercy Mwangangi  12 , Kadondi Kasera  12 , Wangari Ng'ang'a  13 , Ifedayo M O Adetifa  1   11 , E Wangeci Kagucia  1 , Katherine Gallagher  1   11 , Sophie Uyoga  1 , Benjamin Tsofa  1 , Edwine Barasa  1 , Philip Bejon  1   14 , J Anthony G Scott  1   11 , Ambrose Agweyu  1 , George M Warimwe  1   14
Affiliations

Seroprevalence of Antibodies to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Among Healthcare Workers in Kenya

Anthony O Etyang et al. Clin Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Few studies have assessed the seroprevalence of antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Africa. We report findings from a survey among HCWs in 3 counties in Kenya.

Methods: We recruited 684 HCWs from Kilifi (rural), Busia (rural), and Nairobi (urban) counties. The serosurvey was conducted between 30 July and 4 December 2020. We tested for immunoglobulin G antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Assay sensitivity and specificity were 92.7 (95% CI, 87.9-96.1) and 99.0% (95% CI, 98.1-99.5), respectively. We adjusted prevalence estimates, using bayesian modeling to account for assay performance.

Results: The crude overall seroprevalence was 19.7% (135 of 684). After adjustment for assay performance, seroprevalence was 20.8% (95% credible interval, 17.5%-24.4%). Seroprevalence varied significantly (P < .001) by site: 43.8% (95% credible interval, 35.8%-52.2%) in Nairobi, 12.6% (8.8%-17.1%) in Busia and 11.5% (7.2%-17.6%) in Kilifi. In a multivariable model controlling for age, sex, and site, professional cadre was not associated with differences in seroprevalence.

Conclusion: These initial data demonstrate a high seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 among HCWs in Kenya. There was significant variation in seroprevalence by region, but not by cadre.

Keywords: Antibodies; Healthcare Workers; SARS-CoV-2; Seroprevalence.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Chou R, Dana T, Buckley DI, Selph S, Fu R, Totten AM. Epidemiology of and risk factors for coronavirus infection in health care workers: a living rapid review. Ann Intern Med 2020; 173:120–36. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Shields A, Faustini SE, Perez-Toledo M, et al. SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and asymptomatic viral carriage in healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study. Thorax 2020; 75:1089–94. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ministry of Health, Republic of Kenya. COVID-19 situation reports (SITREP). Available at: https://www.health.go.ke/#1591180376422-52af4c1e-256b. Accessed 4 March 2021.
    1. Ojal J, Brand SPC, Were V, et al. Revealing the extent of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya based on serological and PCR-test data. medRxiv [Preprint: not peer reviewed]. 3 September 2020. Available from: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.09.02.20186817v1.
    1. Alter G, Seder R. The power of antibody-based surveillance. N Engl J Med 2020; 383:1782–4. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

Substances