Seroprevalence of SARS-COV-2 Antibodies Associated with the Use of Personal Protective Equipment in Healthcare Workers

Abstract

Background: Hypothetically, PPE played an estimated influential role in preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission among HCWs before immune-prophylaxis by vaccination in BH. Objective: This research aims to determine the relationship between PPE use and the serological response to SARS-COV-2 among HCWs.

Methods: The sample contained 127 COVID-19 outpatients with an average age of 43.5 ± 10.8, 66% women, and 80 (63%) health workers as the study group (37% non-medical workers as a control subjects). The created questionnaire collected sociodemographic data on comorbidity or not, application of PPE, and severity of the clinical picture of COVID-19 infection.

Results: All subjects were monitored for the dynamics of antibodies, separately for IgM- and Ig-G three times, repeated every 3 months (only three before immuno-prophylaxis by vaccinations). A serological investigation of subjects' blood was collected by trained medical staff in vacutainers with a clotting activator to obtain the subjects' serum centrifuged, separated, and tested on the AFIAS 6 COVID-19 apparatus. Healthcare workers who did not wear goggles had significantly higher IgM antibody levels than HCWs who use them [F=9.359 (1, 102), p=.003, partial η2=.084]. Also, HCWs who did not use a visor had significantly higher IgM nucleocapsid antibody titer than those who used it daily or occasionally [F=4.790 (1, 102), p=.031, partial η2=.045]. Increase SARAS-COV-2 IgM titer three, six, or nine months after past COVID-19 infection and before vaccination.

Conclusion: It presents a new acute or recent asymptomatic infection in our HCWs and unrecognized COVID-19. This implies considerable source and unrecognized risk of transmission of the SARS-COV-2 virus, and among HCWs, COVID-19 is an infectious disease with a high prevalence rate.

Keywords: COVID-19; IgM and IgG; SARS-COV-2; healthcare workers; seroprevalence.

Figure 1.. Profile of IgM antibody values based on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) through five measurments. The X-axis shows the number of measurments at which the antibody value was determined. The Y-axis shows the value of antibodies in COI units. The frequency of using PPE is represented by the responses: every day, never and sometimes.

Figure 2.. Profile of IgG antibody values based on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) through five measurments. The X-axis shows the number of measurments at which the antibody value was determined. The Y-axis shows the value of antibodies in COI units. The frequency of using PPE is represented by the responses: every day, never and sometimes.