Immune response to SARS-CoV-2 in Primary Health Care personnel from a commune of Santiago, Chile

ABSTRACT

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic that emerged in Wuhan, China at the end of 2019, spread rapidly around the world with almost 600 million cases and 6.3 million deaths today. The most affected were health workers with at least three times the risk of contracting the disease than the general community. Most studies on seroprevalence in health workers focus on hospital care establishments and what happens in Primary Health Care (PHC) has not been investigated with the same intensity. Aim(s) To determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 using IgG antibodies in primary health care personnel in La Pintana commune, risk factors and clinical characteristics, prior to vaccination in Chile. Method(s) A cross-sectional design carried out in November 2020. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected through face-to-face interviews, after providing informed consent. Specific IgG was determined by ELISA using N and S proteins. The differences between positive and negative subjects were studied using bivariate analysis and multivariate models, controlling for potential confounding variables. The study was approved by the Universidad del Desarrollo Scientific Ethics Committee. Result(s) 463 employees (51.4%) participated, finding a prevalence of 21.8%. The risk factors found were younger age, being a physician and having been in close contact with a case. 22% were asymptomatic. Among those with anosmia/ageusia, the probability of IgG+ was greater than 70%. Antibody titers increase with severity. Conclusion(s) Prevalence found in primary health care personnel is consistent with previous evidence. Younger age and medical profession are associated with a higher risk of illness. Copyright © 2022, Sociedad Chilena de Infectologia. All rights reserved.