Document Type : Original Article
Authors
- Mohammad Shafi Mojadadi 1
- Hossein Sedaghati 2
- Abolfazl Shakiba 3
- Neda Mahdavifar 4
- Saeideh sadat Shobeiri 5
1 Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.
2 Student Research Committee, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
3 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Leishmaniasis Research Center, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
4 Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
5 Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: The novel SARS-CoV-2 virus is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This virus has spread to over 220 countries, infecting more than 700 million individuals worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the serum prevalence of IgM and IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthcare workers at Sabzevar Vasei Hospital.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 165 healthcare workers at Sabzevar Vasei Hospital in March 2021. Participants were divided into three groups for comparison: medical staff (95 individuals), service staff (44 individuals), and administrative staff (26 individuals). A 5 mL blood sample was collected from each participant, and serum levels of IgM and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were measured using ELISA. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 16), with statistical significance set at P ≤ 0.05.
Results: Of a total of 165 participants, 58.2% were women and 41.8% men, with a mean age of 35.84 ± 7.76 years. IgM antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were positive in 9 individuals (5.5%), while IgG antibodies were positive in 106 individuals (64.2%). Additionally, service staff and medical staff had significantly higher rates of positive antibody tests compared to administrative staff (P = 0.03).
Conclusion: The findings indicate that 5.5% of participants had an active infection, while 64.2% had evidence of a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. This higher seroprevalence among healthcare workers may be attributed to greater occupational exposure, the lack of an effective vaccine at the time, and insufficient infection prevention equipment.
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Main Subjects
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