Prevalence of COVID-19 Antibodies in Healthcare Workers at the Peak of the Pandemic in Mumbai, India: A Preliminary Study
Tanu Singhal, Sweta Shah, Reshma Naik, Amreen Kazi, Pooja Thakkar
Abstract
Healthcare worker (HCW) infections due to COVID-19 are of serious consequence. Testing for antibodies against COVID-19 in HCWs has been previously recommended. We conducted a serosurvey in HCWs at a private hospital in Mumbai which is treating COVID patients. A total of 244 HCWs were tested. The prevalence of infection in asymptomatic HCWs was 4.3% and in previously symptomatic untested HCWs was 70%. We recommend that HCWs with a previous history of COVID symptoms who were not tested/tested negative by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction should be tested for antibodies at least 2 weeks after onset of symptoms.
Topics & Concepts
MedicineAsymptomaticPandemicCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Health careAntibodySevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)2019-20 coronavirus outbreakInternal medicineVirologyEmergency medicineImmunologyInfectious disease (medical specialty)OutbreakDiseaseEconomic growthEconomicsSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchCOVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesSARS-CoV-2 detection and testing