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Low pre-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Finnish health care workers: a prospective cohort study.
Tähtinen, Paula A; Ivaska, Lauri; Jalkanen, Pinja; Kakkola, Laura; Kainulainen, Leena; Hytönen, Jukka; Vuorinen, Tytti; Waris, Matti; Peltola, Ville; Oksi, Jarmo; Julkunen, Ilkka; Lempainen, Johanna.
  • Tähtinen PA; Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
  • Ivaska L; Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
  • Jalkanen P; Infections and Immunity Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
  • Kakkola L; Infections and Immunity Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
  • Kainulainen L; Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
  • Hytönen J; Infections and Immunity Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
  • Vuorinen T; Clinical Microbiology Division, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
  • Waris M; Infections and Immunity Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
  • Peltola V; Clinical Microbiology Division, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
  • Oksi J; Infections and Immunity Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
  • Julkunen I; Clinical Microbiology Division, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
  • Lempainen J; Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Infect Dis (Lond) ; 54(6): 448-454, 2022 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1638185
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Health care workers are at risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our aim was to study the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein and spike protein specific antibodies in health care workers with occupational exposure to COVID-19 in Turku, Finland, from May to December 2020.

METHODS:

Health care workers of Turku University Hospital units caring for COVID-19 patients or handling clinical SARS-CoV-2 samples were invited to participate in the study. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein and spike protein specific IgG antibodies were analysed with in-house enzyme immunoassay.

RESULTS:

At study enrolment, only one of the 222 (0.5%) study participants was seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 protein specific antibodies. Two additional study participants (2/222, 0.9%) seroconverted during the follow-up. All these participants were diagnosed with a RT-PCR-positive COVID-19 infection before turning seropositive.

CONCLUSION:

In our study population, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity remained low. The absence of seropositive cases without previous RT-PCR confirmed infections demonstrate good access to diagnostics. In addition to high vaccine coverage, high standards of infection prevention practices and use of standard personal protective equipment seem sufficient in preventing occupational SARS-CoV-2 infection in a setting with low number of circulating virus. However, it remains unclear whether similar protective practices would also be effective against more transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Vaccines / Variants Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: Infect Dis (Lond) Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: 23744235.2022.2027008

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Vaccines / Variants Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: Infect Dis (Lond) Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: 23744235.2022.2027008