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Multicenter Study
. 2022 Jun;79(6):388-395.
doi: 10.1136/oemed-2021-107487. Epub 2021 Nov 5.

Seroprevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 antibody in healthcare workers: a multicentre cross-sectional study in 10 Colombian cities

Jeadran Nevardo Malagón-Rojas  1   2 , Marcela Mercado-Reyes  3 , Yezith G Toloza-Pérez  2 , Eliana L Parra Barrera  2 , Marien Palma  2 , Esperanza Muñoz  4 , Ronald López  2 , Julia Almentero  2 , Vivian V Rubio  3 , Edgar Ibáñez  5 , Eliana Téllez  2   6 , Lucy G Delgado-Murcia  7 , Claudia P Jimenez  8   9 , Diego Viasus-Pérez  10 , Marisol Galindo  3 , Luisa Lagos  2 ; Interinstitutional Support Group
Collaborators, Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Seroprevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 antibody in healthcare workers: a multicentre cross-sectional study in 10 Colombian cities

Jeadran Nevardo Malagón-Rojas et al. Occup Environ Med. 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Healthcare workers are at increased risk of infection due to occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers in Colombia.

Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study focused on estimating the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in healthcare workers from 65 hospitals in 10 cities in Colombia during the second semester of 2020. The seroprevalence was determined using an automated immunoassay (Abbott SARS-CoV-2 CLIA IgG). The study included a survey to establish the sociodemographic variables and the risk of infection. A multivariate model was used to evaluate the association between the results of seroprevalence and risk factors.

Results: The global seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was 35% (95% Bayesian CI 33% to 37%). All the personnel reported the use of protective equipment. General services personnel and nurses presented the highest ratios of seroprevalence among the healthcare workers. Low socioeconomic strata have shown a strong association with seropositivity.

Conclusion: This study estimates the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers. Even though all the personnel reported the use of protective equipment, the seroprevalence in the general services personnel and nurses was high. Also, a significant difference by cities was observed.

Keywords: COVID-19; cross-sectional studies; health personnel; occupational health; public health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of seroprevalence by city. The figure presents in greyscale the prevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in each city included in the study. Cities are marked with a white dot. The greater the intensity of the grey, the greater the seroprevalence was found in the city.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Seroprevalence among healthcare workers in Colombia by occupation. *Other: nutritionists, Rx technician, physiotherapist and clinical laboratory technician. The figure shows the crude and adjusted seroprevalence levels among different healthcare occupations. Seroprevalence levels were higher among nurses and general services workers.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Seroprevalence and socioeconomic stratum in Colombia. The figure presents the differences in the seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among healthcare workers from different socioeconomic levels. There is a linear trend showing higher seroprevalence levels in lower socioeconomic strata (1–3) and lower seroprevalence in higher socioeconomic strata (4–6).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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