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. 2024 Jun 7;16(3):531-542.
doi: 10.3390/idr16030040.

Seroprevalence of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibodies in Healthcare Personnel in El Salvador Prior to Vaccination Campaigns

José Elías Aguilar Ramírez  1 , Adrianna Maliga  2   3 , Allison Stewart  4 , Allison Lino  2   3 , José Eduardo Oliva  1 , Xochitl Sandoval  1 , Emily Zielinski-Gutierrez  4 , Rafael Chacon-Fuentes  4 , Parminder S Suchdev  4   5 , Susana Zelaya  1 , Mario Sánchez  1 , Delmy Lisseth Recinos  1 , Beatriz López  4 , Ella Hawes  2   3 , Julie Liu  2   3 , Shannon E Ronca  2   3 , Sarah M Gunter  2   3 , Kristy O Murray  2   3   5 , Rhina Domínguez  1
Affiliations

Seroprevalence of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibodies in Healthcare Personnel in El Salvador Prior to Vaccination Campaigns

José Elías Aguilar Ramírez et al. Infect Dis Rep. .

Abstract

COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is a highly pathogenic emerging infectious disease. Healthcare personnel (HCP) are presumably at higher risk of acquiring emerging infections because of occupational exposure. The prevalence of COVID-19 in HCP is unknown, particularly in low- to middle-income countries like El Salvador. The goal of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among HCP in El Salvador just prior to vaccine rollout in March 2021. We evaluated 2176 participants from a nationally representative sample of national healthcare institutions. We found 40.4% (n = 880) of the study participants were seropositive for anti-spike protein antibodies. Significant factors associated with infection included younger age; living within the central, more populated zone of the country; living in a larger household (≥7 members); household members with COVID-19 or compatible symptoms; and those who worked in auxiliary services (i.e., housekeeping and food services). These findings provide insight into opportunities to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 risk and other emerging respiratory pathogens in HCP in El Salvador.

Keywords: COVID-19; El Salvador; SARS-CoV-2; seroprevalence; spike protein.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Geospatial map of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody seropositivity by district.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Geospatial map of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody seropositivity by district.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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