Abstract
Healthcare workers (HCWs) may be at high risk for exposure to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) because of their frequent contact with patients or the direct handling of respiratory samples. We investigated the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG in HCWs in Seoul compared to those in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients and community-based individuals to evaluate the antibody response. A total of 358 samples from 348 individuals (155 HCWs, 7 COVID-19 patients, and 186 community-based individuals) were collected from April to November 2020. SARS-CoV-2 IgG was detected in 1 of 155 HCWs (1 of 46 HCWs with direct contact), 7 of 7 COVID-19 patients, and none of the 186 community-based individuals (95% CI: 0.6%, 0.1 - 3.6%; 100%, 64.5 - 100%; 0.0%, 0.0 - 2.0%, respectively). The single HCW with a positive result showed 2.32 signal-to-cutoff (S/C) and 2.31 S/C at a 3-week interval. Therefore, it was assumed to be a false positive due to autoantibody or medication. The positive samples from 7 patients had a median of 3.79 S/C (range 1.72 - 6.54). The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG in HCWs was very low. The current infection control standard seems to be effective in protecting HCWs from COVID-19.
Keywords
Healthcare workers SARS-CoV-2 IgG Seroprevalence
Figures & Tables
Table 1. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG in healthcare workers, COVID-19 patients, and community-based population
| Variable | Healthcare worker | Patients | Community |
| Number | 155 | 7 | 186 |
| Positive, n (%, 95% CI) | 1 (0.6%, 0.1 - 3.6) | 7 (100%, 64.5 - 100) | 0 (0.0%, 0.0 - 2.0) |
| S/C* | 2.32, 2.31 | 3.79 (1.72 - 6.54) | - |
