Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and risk of viral exposure among healthcare workers in the South Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: a cross-sectional study.

Autor:	Chasinga TB; Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu, Congo (the Democratic Republic of the).; Panzi General Referral Hospital, Bukavu, Congo (the Democratic Republic of the)., Cikwanine JB; Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu, Congo (the Democratic Republic of the).; Panzi General Referral Hospital, Bukavu, Congo (the Democratic Republic of the)., Kribi S; Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany., Yoyu JT; Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu, Congo (the Democratic Republic of the).; Département des Œuvres et Recherches Médicales, ECC-NK, Goma, Congo (the Democratic Republic of the)., Hofmann N; Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany., Grossegesse M; Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany., Nitsche A; Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany., Tomczyk S; Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany., Vietor AC; Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany., Leendertz FH; Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.; Helmholtz Institute for One Health, Greifswald, Germany., Eckmanns T; Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany., Kusinza AB; Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu, Congo (the Democratic Republic of the).; Panzi General Referral Hospital, Bukavu, Congo (the Democratic Republic of the)., Munguakonkwa E; Panzi General Referral Hospital, Bukavu, Congo (the Democratic Republic of the)., Kalk A; Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Kinshasa, Congo (the Democratic Republic of the)., Raha M; Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu, Congo (the Democratic Republic of the).; Panzi General Referral Hospital, Bukavu, Congo (the Democratic Republic of the)., Kambale NS; Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu, Congo (the Democratic Republic of the).; Département des Œuvres et Recherches Médicales, ECC-NK, Goma, Congo (the Democratic Republic of the)., Ayagirwe RB; Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu, Congo (the Democratic Republic of the)., Schubert G; ZIG4, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany schubertg@rki.de., Mukwege D; Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu, Congo (the Democratic Republic of the).; Panzi General Referral Hospital, Bukavu, Congo (the Democratic Republic of the).
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	BMJ open [BMJ Open] 2024 Jan 04; Vol. 14 (1), pp. e072212. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jan 04.
DOI:	10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072212
Abstrakt:	Objectives: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are on the frontline of combating COVID-19, hence are at elevated risk of contracting an infection with SARS-CoV-2. The present study aims to measure the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on HCWs in central sub-Saharan Africa. Setting: A cross-sectional serological study was conducted at six urban and five rural hospitals during the first pandemic wave in the South Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Participants: Serum specimens from 1029 HCWs employed during the first pandemic wave were collected between August and October 2020, and data on demographics and work-related factors were recorded during structured interviews. Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures: The presence of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was examined by ELISA. Positive specimens were further tested using a micro-neutralisation assay. Factors driving SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity were assessed by multivariable analysis. Results: Overall SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was high among HCWs (33.1%), and significantly higher in urban (41.5%) compared with rural (19.8%) hospitals. Having had presented with COVID-19-like symptoms before was a strong predictor of seropositivity (31.5%). Personal protective equipment (PPE, 88.1% and 11.9%) and alcohol-based hand sanitizer (71.1% and 28.9%) were more often available, and hand hygiene was more often reported after patient contact (63.0% and 37.0%) in urban compared with rural hospitals, respectively. This may suggest that higher exposure during non-work times in high incidence urban areas counteracts higher work protection levels of HCWs. Conclusions: High SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity indicates widespread transmission of the virus in this region of DRC. Given the absence of publicly reported cases during the same time period at the rural sites, serological studies are very relevant in revealing infection dynamics especially in regions with low diagnostic capacities. This, and discrepancies in the application of PPE between urban and rural sites, should be considered in future pandemic response programmes. Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared. (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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