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SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence screening study of a children's hospital health care workers
Olivia Pluss1, Stephen Berman1,2, Molly Lamb1,3
1Center for Global Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA.
Insights
Pediatric healthcare workers (HCWs) at a Colorado children's hospital showed a 2.7% seroprevalence for SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to the Delta variant. Effective infection control measures likely minimized in-hospital transmission among these essential workers.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Limited data exists on pediatric healthcare workers (HCWs) and COVID-19, with research primarily focusing on adult populations.
- Pediatric HCWs are crucial frontline responders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among pediatric HCWs at a children's hospital in Colorado.
- To identify risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2020 to April 2021.
- SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was assessed using anti-Nucleocapsid IgG and anti-Spike Protein IgG assays.
- Risk factors and vaccination status were collected via questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Overall seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among pediatric HCWs was 2.7% (3 out of 110).
- 79 subjects showed antibodies indicating COVID-19 vaccination, while 31 indicated no prior infection or vaccination.
- Asthma requiring medication was associated with a positive serostatus.
Conclusions:
- The study identified a low SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence of 2.7% in pediatric HCWs during winter 2020/21.
- Findings suggest that the hospital's infection control and personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines were effective in preventing in-hospital transmission prior to the Delta variant.
- This study provides valuable insights into COVID-19 epidemiology among a vulnerable healthcare worker group.
Background:
Health care workers (HCWs) are front line responders to the COVID-19 pandemic, but limited data is available for pediatric HCWs, as the research response has largely focused on adult patients and medical personnel that treat these patients.
Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional study of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and risk factors in HCWs at a Children's Hospital in CO, USA from September 2020 to April 2021. Pediatric HCWs were defined as clinical care providers and administrative staff. Seroprevalence was determined using the Epitope SARS-CoV-2 anti-Nucleocapsid IgG assay (San Diego, CA) and the Euroimmun SARS-CoV-2 anti-Spike Protein IgG assay. Risk factors and vaccination status were assessed via questionnaire.
Results:
Overall, 110 HCWs were enrolled, 79 subjects were positive for anti-S antibodies and negative for anti-N antibodies, indicating COVID-19 vaccination. 31 subjects had neither anti-N or anti-S antibodies, indicating no exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and no vaccination. 3/110 had a nucleocapsid serology consistent with a SARS-CoV-2 prior infection. Seroprevalence was observed at 2.7%. It was noted that asthma requiring medication was associated with positive serostatus.
Conclusions:
During the winter 2020/21, SARS-CoV-2, we found a 2.7% seroprevalence of pediatric HCW at a children's hospital in Colorado. We compared this with publicly available seroprevalence data for seroprevalence rates of pediatric HCWs globally. This suggests that this specific children's hospital COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection control guidelines were effective in limiting SARS-CoV-2 in hospital transmission at the children's hospital prior to the presence of the Delta variant.
