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Jespersen S, Mikkelsen S, Greve T, Kaspersen KA, Tolstrup M, Boldsen JK, Redder JD, Nielsen K, Abildgaard AM, Kolstad HA, Østergaard L, Thomsen MK, Møller HJ, Erikstrup C. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Seroprevalence Survey Among 17 971 Healthcare and Administrative Personnel at Hospitals, Prehospital Services, and Specialist Practitioners in the Central Denmark Region. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 73:e2853-e2860. [PMID: 33011792 PMCID: PMC7797753 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to perform a seroprevalence survey on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among Danish healthcare workers to identify high-risk groups. METHODS All healthcare workers and administrative personnel at the 7 hospitals, prehospital services, and specialist practitioner clinics in the Central Denmark Region were invited to be tested by a commercial SARS-CoV-2 total antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co, Ltd, Beijing, China). RESULTS A total of 25 950 participants were invited. Of these, 17 971 had samples available for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing. After adjustment for assay sensitivity and specificity, the overall seroprevalence was 3.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5%-3.8%). The seroprevalence was higher in the western part of the region than in the eastern part (11.9% vs 1.2%; difference: 10.7 percentage points [95% CI, 9.5-12.2]). In the high-prevalence area, the emergency departments had the highest seroprevalence (29.7%), whereas departments without patients or with limited patient contact had the lowest seroprevalence (2.2%). Among the total 668 seropositive participants, 433 (64.8%) had previously been tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, and 50.0% had a positive reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result. CONCLUSIONS We found large differences in the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in staff working in the healthcare sector within a small geographical area of Denmark. Half of all seropositive staff had been tested positive by PCR prior to this survey. This study raises awareness of precautions that should be taken to avoid in-hospital transmission. Regular testing of healthcare workers for SARS-CoV-2 should be considered to identify areas with increased transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne Jespersen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Susan Mikkelsen
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Thomas Greve
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Kathrine Agergård Kaspersen
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Danish Big Data Centre for Environment and Health, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Martin Tolstrup
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jens Kjærgaard Boldsen
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Danish Big Data Centre for Environment and Health, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | - Kent Nielsen
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Herning Regional Hospital, Herning, Denmark
| | | | | | - Lars Østergaard
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Holger Jon Møller
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Christian Erikstrup
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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