ABSTRACT
Background: SARS-CoV-2 is a novel virus that caused the recent global pandemic. Health care workers (HCWs), especially hospital staff, are at a higher risk of infection by this virus than the general population. In this study, anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies were assessed in hospital workers. Methods: This prospective seroconversion-based cohort study assessed chronic immunity against covid-19 in the staff of two hos-pitals, the main referral hospital and a general hospital in Shiraz, south of Iran. A valid and reliable checklist was filled out for each available staff member willing to participate in this study through a face-to-face interview. Furthermore, the titer of anti-covid-19 IgG was measured by ELISA twice;in July 2020 after the second wave of COVID-19 and in February 2021 after the third wave in IRAN. Results: One hundred forty (65%) of the 214 members who participated in both stages of this consideration were from the COVID-19 referral healing center, and 74 (35%) were from the common clinic. Twelve (5.6%) of staff members had anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG anti-bodies, including 10 (7.1%) from the referral healing center and 2 (2.7%) from the common healing center (P = 0.23). In the second measurement (second overview), 79 (36.9%) of members had IgG antibodies;58 (41.4%) from the primary hospital and 21 (28.3%) from the second healing center (P = 0.039). Cruel of the IgG titer within the first study and the referral clinic was 0.8 ± 0.3 compared to 0.15 ± 0.42 within the common clinic (P = 0.001). These figures were 3.05 ± 4.58 and 1.74 ± 3.53 in both clinics and within the second overview separately (P = 0.003). IgG levels were significantly higher in the second overview compared to the first (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: During the third wave of COVID-19, a significant proportion of hospital staff developed COVID-19 IgG, especially in the referral hospitals for COVID-19. As a result of their higher and chronic exposure to COVID-19 patients than the general hospital staff, the titer of IgG in the referral hospital staff was also higher. However, the seroconversion rate between the two waves was 1.8 times in the general hospital staff compared to the referral hospital, possibly due to less conservative precautions against covid-19 among them. Even after receiving the anti-covid-19 vaccination, it is important to monitor the immunity of hospital staff to covid-19 and to adhere strictly to standard precautions.
ABSTRACT
The virus causing COVID-19 disease is known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease spread rapidly and was transmitted like a contagious disease throughout China, and then it gradually spread in other parts of the world. Accordingly, the rapid and accurate detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus plays an essential role in selecting timely treatments, saving lives, and preventing the spread of the disease. This study summarizes the methods used to identify coronavirus nucleic acid. The effectiveness of coronavirus nucleic acid detection kits by different samples and the performance of other diagnostic techniques are also addressed in this study. We searched Embase, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases as well as the references of all relevant articles in English published during 2019-2020 using keywords related to COVID-19, detection kits, and respiratory failure and proceedings from relevant conferences and congresses. The authors collected the relevant reports, and each of the authors independently reviewed the data published in different studies. The results of previous studies indicated that the diagnosis methods of the COVID-19 disease are the RT-PCR method, ELISA kits, quick tests, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, other laboratory factors and antigenic detection methods. Given the sensitivity and specificity of these methods at different periods using different samples, the disease interpretation can be performed accurately. The findings showed that proper laboratory equipment and appropriate laboratory kits are necessary for the rapid and precise identification of COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Background: The outbreak of COVID-19 in China in late 2019 was an unprecedented catastrophe that also involved many other countries, including Iran. Concerning the danger of disease contagion, it is necessary to detect asymptomatic or mild cases, especially in hospital staff who are highly exposed to the disease. Objectives: In this serosurvey study, we aimed to estimate IgG seroprevalence among hospital staff in two public hospitals to determine local transmission and infection risk factors, as well as protective immunity among high-risk populations. Methods: Screening was offered to the hospital staff of two public hospitals in Shiraz, Iran. Screening involved the measurement of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Besides, a checklist that consisted of questions about sociodemographic, occupational, and epidemiological characteristics was completed by the participants. Results: Among 494 participants in this study, 29 (5.8%) had anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG in their blood. Besides, 320 (64.8%) had at least one of the clinical symptoms within six months before this survey. Among participants with positive PCR, nine (21.4%) had anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, while this figure was seven (33.3%) for individuals with positive CT scans. Non-proper disposal of used protective equipment or infectious wastes (OR = 26.5), rotational daily work shifts (OR = 7.5), being anxious about getting COVID-19 (OR = 3.8), and age (OR = 1.06) were the significant determinants of having anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG in the hospital staff. Conclusions: It is essential to continue training and giving technical consultations about COVID-19, especially the proper disposal of used protective equipment or infectious wastes in rotational daily shift workers. © 2021, Author(s).