SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among pediatric health care personnel after the first peak of the pandemic: nationwide surveillance in Turkey

Oygar, Pembe; BÜYÜKCAM, Ayşe; Bal, Zumrut; Dalgic, Nazan; Bozdemir, Sefika; Karbuz, Adem; ÇETİN, BENHUR; Kara, Yalcin; Cetin, Ceren; Hatipoglu, Nevin; Uygun, Hatice; Aygun, Fatma; Torun, Selda; Okur, Dicle; Ciftdogan, Dilek; Kara, Tugce; Yahsi, Aysun; Ozer, Arife; Demir, Sevliya; Akkoc, Gulsen; Turan, Cansu; Sali, Enes; Sen, Semra; Erdeniz, Emine; Kara, Soner; Emiroglu, Melike; Erat, Tugba; Akturk, Hacer; Gurlevik, Sibel; Sutcu, Murat; Aydin, Zeynep; Atikan, Basak; Yesil, Edanur; Guner, Gizem; Celebi, Emel; Efe, Kadir; Isancli, Didem; Durmus, Habibe; Tekeli, Seher; Karaaslan, Ayse; Bulbul, Lida; Almis, Habip; Kaba, Ozge; Keles, Yildiz; Yazicioglu, Bahadir; Oguz, Serife; Ovali, Husnu; Dogan, Hazal; Celebi, Solmaz; Cakir, Deniz; Karasulu, Burcugul; Alkan, Gulsum; Yenidogan, Irem; Gul, Doruk; Kucukalioglu, Burcu; Avcu, Gulhadiye; Kukul, Musa; Bilen, Melis; Yasar, Belma; Ustun, Tugba; Kilic, Omer; Akin, Yasemin; Cebeci, Sinem; Bucak, Ibrahim; Yanartas, Mehpare; Sahin, Aslihan; Arslanoglu, Sertac; Elevli, Murat; Coban, Rabia; Oz, Sadiye; Hatipoglu, Halil; Erkum, Ilyas; Turgut, Mehmet; Demirbuga, Asuman; Ozcelik, Taha; Ciftci, Diclehan; Sari, Emine; Akkus, Gokhan; Hatipoglu, Sadik; Dinleyici, Ener; Hacimustafaoglu, Mustafa; Ozkinay, Ferda; Kurugol, Zafer; Cengiz, Ali; Somer, Ayper; Tezer, Hasan; Kara, Ates

doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2021.09.054

SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among pediatric health care personnel after the first peak of the pandemic: nationwide surveillance in Turkey

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Oygar P. D., BÜYÜKCAM A., Bal Z. S., Dalgic N., Bozdemir S. E., Karbuz A., ...More

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, vol.113, pp.184-189, 2021 (SCI-Expanded)

Publication Type: Article / Article
Volume: 113
Publication Date: 2021
Doi Number: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.09.054
Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals
Page Numbers: pp.184-189
Ondokuz Mayıs University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Background: Understanding SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among health care personnel is important to ex-plore risk factors for transmission, develop elimination strategies and form a view on the necessity and frequency of surveillance in the future. Methods: We enrolled 4927 health care personnel working in pediatric units at 32 hospitals from 7 different regions of Turkey in a study to determine SARS Co-V-2 seroprevalence after the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. A point of care serologic lateral flow rapid test kit for immunoglobulin (Ig)M/IgG was used. Seroprevalence and its association with demographic characteristics and possible risk factors were analyzed. Results: SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity prevalence in health care personnel tested was 6.1%. Seropositivity was more common among those who did not universally wear protective masks (10.6% vs 6.1%). Having a COVID-19-positive co-worker increased the likelihood of infection. The least and the most experienced personnel were more likely to be infected. Most of the seropositive health care personnel (68.0%) did not suspect that they had previously had COVID-19. Conclusions: Health surveillance for health care personnel involving routine point-of-care nucleic acid testing and monitoring personal protective equipment adherence are suggested as important strategies to protect health care personnel from COVID-19 and reduce nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 transmission. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases.