• Sara H Farsi, Thamir A Alandijany, Mansoor Radwi, Ali Farsi, Wadeeah Bahaaziq, Ibrahim Abushoshah, Sherif A El-Kafrawy, Salma Alsayed, Esam I Azhar, and Abdulaziz Boker.
• From the Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care (Farsi, Bahaaziq, Abushoshah, Boker), Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University; from the Special Infectious Agents Unit (Alandijany, El-Kafrawy, Alsayed, Azhar), King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University; from the Department of Medical Laboratory Technology (Alandijany, El-Kafrawy, Alsayed, Azhar), Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University; from the Department of Hematology (Radwi), College of Medicine, University of Jeddah; from the Department of Surgery (Farsi), Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Jeddah; from the Clinical Skills and Simulation Center (Boker), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah; and from the Department of Nursing (Alsayed), Faculty of Al-Qunfudah Health Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Saudi Med J. 2021 Jul 1; 42 (7): 742-749.

ObjectivesTo identify the prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies among operating room and critical care staff.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we recruited 319 Healthcare workers employed in the operation theater and intensive care unit of King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), a tertiary teaching hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between August 9, 2020 and November 2, 2020. All participants completed a 20-item questionnaire on demographic data and COVID-19 risk factors and provided blood samples. Antibody testing was performed using an in-house enzyme immunoassay and microneutralization test.ResultsOf the 319 participants, 39 had detectable COVID-19 antibodies. Five of them had never experienced any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, and only 19 were previously diagnosed with COVID-19. The odds of developing COVID-19 or having corresponding antibodies increased if participants experienced COVID-19 symptoms (odds ratio [OR], 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-7.5) or reported contact with an infected family member (OR, 5.3; 95% CI, 2.5-11.2). Disease acquisition was not associated with employment in the ICU and involvement in the intubation of or close contact with COVID-19 patients. Of the 19 previously diagnosed participants, 6 did not possess any detectable COVID-19 antibodies.ConclusionsHealthcare workers may have undiagnosed COVID-19, and those previously infected may not have long-lasting immunity. Therefore, hospitals must continue to uphold strict infection control during the COVID-19 pandemic.Copyright: © Saudi Medical Journal.

33 keywords...

hide…