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Discrepancy between frequent occurrence of COVID-19-like symptoms and low seroconversion rates among healthcare workers.
Dehnen, Dorothea; Dehnen, Katja; Trilling, Mirko; Fiedler, Melanie; Drexler, Julia; Goralski, Marcel; Le-Trilling, Vu Thuy Khanh; Schöler, Lara; Jöckel, Karl-Heinz; Heßbrügge, Martina.
  • Dehnen D; Institute of Family Practice, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
  • Dehnen K; Institute of Family Practice, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
  • Trilling M; Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
  • Fiedler M; Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
  • Drexler J; Institute of Family Practice, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
  • Goralski M; Institute of Family Practice, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
  • Le-Trilling VTK; Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
  • Schöler L; Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
  • Jöckel KH; Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology (IMIBE), University Hospital Essen, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
  • Heßbrügge M; Institute of Family Practice, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
J Med Virol ; 94(3): 951-957, 2022 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1718355
ABSTRACT
During the first wave of the pandemic, we compared the occurrence of subjectively experienced COVID-19-like symptoms and true severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroconversion rates among medical personnel in general practices. This cross-sectional study determined the SARS-CoV-2-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody status of medical staff from 100 outpatient practices in Germany. Study cohort characteristics and COVID-19-like symptoms were obtained by questionnaires. The initial screening for SARS-CoV-2-recognizing antibodies was performed using a commercial chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay. Positive results were controlled with another approved test. Samples with discrepant results were subjected to a third IgG-binding assay and a neutralization test. A total of 861 participants were included, 1.7% (n = 15) of whom tested positive for SARS-CoV-specific IgG in the initial screening test. In 46.6% (n = 7) of positive cases, test results were confirmed by an independent test. In the eight samples with discrepant results, neither spike-specific antibodies nor in vitro neutralizing capacity were detectable, resulting in a genuine seroprevalence rate of 0.8%. 794 participants completed the questionnaire. Intriguingly, a total of 53.7% (n = 426) of them stated episodes of COVID-19-like symptoms. Except for smell and taste dysfunction, there were no significant differences between the groups with and without laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion. Our results demonstrated that only 0.8% of participants acquired SARS-CoV-2 even though 53.7% of participants reportedly experienced COVID-19-like symptoms. Thus, even among medical staff, self-diagnosis based on subjectively experienced symptoms does not have a relevant predictive value.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: J Med Virol Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Jmv.27385

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: J Med Virol Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Jmv.27385