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SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Healthcare Workers in Germany: A Follow-Up Study

Author

Listed:
  • Johannes Korth

    (Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Benjamin Wilde

    (Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Sebastian Dolff

    (Department of Infectious Diseases, West German Centre of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Jasmin Frisch

    (Department of Infectious Diseases, West German Centre of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Michael Jahn

    (Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Adalbert Krawczyk

    (Department of Infectious Diseases, West German Centre of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany
    Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstr. 179, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Mirko Trilling

    (Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstr. 179, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Leonie Schipper

    (Department of Infectious Diseases, West German Centre of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Sebastian Cordes

    (Department of Pneumology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Tüschener Weg 40, 45239 Essen, Germany)

  • Birgit Ross

    (Hospital Hygiene, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Monika Lindemann

    (Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Andreas Kribben

    (Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Ulf Dittmer

    (Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstr. 179, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Oliver Witzke

    (Department of Infectious Diseases, West German Centre of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Anke Herrmann

    (Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstr. 179, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Olympia Evdoxia Anastasiou

    (Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstr. 179, 45147 Essen, Germany)

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 is a worldwide challenge for the medical sector. Healthcare workers (HCW) are a cohort vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection due to frequent and close contact with COVID-19 patients. However, they are also well trained and equipped with protective gear. The SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody status was assessed at three different time points in 450 HCW of the University Hospital Essen in Germany. HCW were stratified according to contact frequencies with COVID-19 patients in (I) a high-risk group with daily contacts with known COVID-19 patients (n = 338), (II) an intermediate-risk group with daily contacts with non-COVID-19 patients (n = 78), and (III) a low-risk group without patient contacts (n = 34). The overall seroprevalence increased from 2.2% in March–May to 4.0% in June–July to 5.1% in October–December. The SARS-CoV-2 IgG detection rate was not significantly different between the high-risk group (1.8%; 3.8%; 5.5%), the intermediate-risk group (5.1%; 6.3%; 6.1%), and the low-risk group (0%, 0%, 0%). The overall SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence remained low in HCW in western Germany one year after the outbreak of COVID-19 in Germany, and hygiene standards seemed to be effective in preventing patient-to-staff virus transmission.

Suggested Citation

  • Johannes Korth & Benjamin Wilde & Sebastian Dolff & Jasmin Frisch & Michael Jahn & Adalbert Krawczyk & Mirko Trilling & Leonie Schipper & Sebastian Cordes & Birgit Ross & Monika Lindemann & Andreas Kr, 2021. "SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Healthcare Workers in Germany: A Follow-Up Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-10, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:9:p:4540-:d:542915
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. N. Ahmad Aziz & Victor M. Corman & Antje K. C. Echterhoff & Marcel A. Müller & Anja Richter & Antonio Schmandke & Marie Luisa Schmidt & Thomas H. Schmidt & Folgerdiena M. Vries & Christian Drosten & M, 2021. "Seroprevalence and correlates of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies from a population-based study in Bonn, Germany," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Dimitrios Papagiannis & Foteini Malli & Dimitrios G. Raptis & Ioanna V. Papathanasiou & Evangelos C. Fradelos & Zoe Daniil & Georgios Rachiotis & Konstantinos I. Gourgoulianis, 2020. "Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards New Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) of Health Care Professionals in Greece before the Outbreak Period," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-14, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Anke Hildebrandt & Oktay Hökelekli & Lutz Uflacker & Henrik Rudolf & Michael Paulussen & Sören G. Gatermann, 2022. "Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Employees of Three Hospitals of a Secondary Care Hospital Network in Germany and an Associated Fire Brigade: Results of a Repeated Cross-Sectional Surveillan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-15, February.
    2. Julia König & Seockhoon Chung & Verena Ertl & Bettina K. Doering & Hannah Comtesse & Johanna Unterhitzenberger & Antonia Barke, 2021. "The German Translation of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 (SAVE-9) Scale: Results from Healthcare Workers during the Second Wave of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-12, September.
    3. Lionel Larribère & Jelizaveta Gordejeva & Lisa Kuhnhenn & Maximilian Kurscheidt & Monika Pobiruchin & Dilyana Vladimirova & Maria Martin & Markus Roser & Wendelin Schramm & Uwe M. Martens & Tatjana Ei, 2021. "Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Healthcare Workers of a German COVID-19 Treatment Center," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-11, July.

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