• Alberto Fica, Felipe Olivares, Maritza Navarrete, Gumaro Martínez Pizzi, Michelle Martínez Ulloa, Karina Castillo Fuentevilla, Teresa Cornejo Morales, Nicolás Miranda Torres, Juan Carlos Velásquez Mejías, Diego Luco Palomino, Dafnae Valenzuela Schneider, and Nadia Vásquez Barría.
• SubDepartamento de Medicina, Hospital Base de Valdivia, Valdivia, Chile.
• Rev Med Chil. 2023 Feb 1; 151 (1): 233123-31.

BackgroundThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is associated with morbidity, hospitalizations, absenteeism, and mortality among healthcare workers (HCW).AimTo evaluate the seroconversion rate in HCW exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in the early pandemic phase in 2020 at a regional reference hospital.Material And MethodsOne hundred seventy-nine HCW working at a regional hospital were invited to a longitudinal study performed between April-July 2020. A serological analysis by ELISA IgG for viral nucleoprotein and protein S with a secondary analysis by ELISA IgG protein S1/S2 for samples with positive or doubtful result was carried out together with a complementary online survey to inquire about occupational or community exposures to SARS-CoV-2.ResultsTwo cases with baseline infection were detected (1.1%, one symptomatic and one asymptomatic) and no cases of seroconversion were detected. During the study period, there were 136 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, and regional weekly COVID-19 incidence ranged from 2.7 to 24.4 per 100,000 inhabitants. No SARS-CoV-2 cases were detected by PCR among 27 HCW who consulted for respiratory symptoms in the period. Online surveys confirmed direct care of COVID-19 patients and also detected a high degree of unprotected social interaction at work.ConclusionsThere was no evidence of seroconversion in this group of HCW exposed to the risk of infection by SARS-CoV-2 during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Personal protective equipment and other measures used by the HCW were extremely useful for their protection in the initial phase of the pandemic.

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