Published in:Scandinavian Journal of Public Health
Language:
English
DOI:
10.1177/14034948211022434
ISSN:
1403-4948;
1651-1905
Origination:
Footnote:
Description:
<jats:sec><jats:title>Aim:</jats:title><jats:p> We aimed to assess prevalence of IgG antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and factors associated with seropositivity in a large cohort of healthcare workers (HCWs). </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods:</jats:title><jats:p> From 11 May until 11 June 2020, 3981 HCWs at a large Swedish emergency care hospital provided serum samples and questionnaire data. Presence of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 was measured as an indicator of SARS-CoV-2 exposure. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results:</jats:title><jats:p> The total seroprevalence was 18% and increased during the study period. Among the seropositive HCWs, 11% had been entirely asymptomatic. Participants who worked with COVID-19 patients had higher odds for seropositivity: adjusted odds ratio 1.96 (95% confidence intervals 1.59–2.42). HCWs from three of the departments managing COVID-19 patients had significantly higher seroprevalences, whereas the prevalence among HCWs from the intensive care unit (also managing COVID-19 patients) was significantly lower. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions:</jats:title><jats:p> HCWs in contact with SARS-CoV-2 infected patients had a variable, but on average higher, likelihood for SARS-CoV-2 infections. </jats:p></jats:sec>