Evaluation of Humoral immune responses against coronavirus in healthcare staff in hospitals and medical centers of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Abstract

Background and aims: Due to the different levels of exposure of different people to the coronavirus and different levels of immune response among them, this study was designed to investigate the humoral immune responses against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in healthcare staff in hospitals and medical centers admitting COVID-19 patients. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, which was performed by call-out, the serum levels of IgM and IgG antibodies in 492 staff of hospitals and medical centers were evaluated using ELISA. Then, factors influencing the immune response of participants were determined. Results: IgG positivity was 11.6% among participants of this study, 19.2% of the staff had a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, and the IgG positivity rate among them was only 16%. There was no significant relationship between body mass index, underlying diseases, diabetes, immune system-related diseases, herpes simplex virus, workplace, blood type, education level, symptoms, and IgG response (P>0.05). Further, the rate of IgG positivity in healthcare staff indicated a significant relationship only with gender (P=0.005), history of hospitalization (P=0.002) due to COVID-19 and position (P=0.008). Conclusion: This study found that the prevalence of humoral immune response in healthcare staff was lower than the prevalence of the disease based on molecular tests. Based on the results of the present study, it is possible to provide an accurate estimate of the level of involvement and predisposition of healthcare staff in hospital wards and medical centers and to use this information for disease management and control.

Keywords

• coronavirus
• seroprevalence
• epidemiology
• immune responses
• healthcare staff