| Autor: |
Bernhard J; Institute of International Health, Charité Center for Global Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany., Theuring S; Institute of International Health, Charité Center for Global Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany., van Loon W; Institute of International Health, Charité Center for Global Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany., Mall MA; Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany.; Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany.; German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), 35392 Gießen, Germany., Seybold J; Medical Directorate, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany., Kurth T; Institute of Public Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany., Rubio-Acero R; Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80802 Munich, Germany., Wieser A; Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80802 Munich, Germany.; Max von Pettenkofer Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80336 Munich, Germany.; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), 80802 Munich, Germany.; Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), 80779 Munich, Germany., Mockenhaupt FP; Institute of International Health, Charité Center for Global Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany. |
| Abstrakt: |
SARS-CoV-2 serology may be helpful to retrospectively understand infection dynamics in specific settings including kindergartens. We assessed SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in individuals connected to kindergartens in Berlin, Germany in September 2021. Children, staff, and household members from 12 randomly selected kindergartens were interviewed on COVID-19 history and sociodemographic parameters. Blood samples were collected on filter paper. SARS-CoV-2 anti-S and anti-N antibodies were assessed using Roche Elecsys. We assessed seroprevalence and the proportion of so far unrecognized SARS-CoV-2 infections. We included 277 participants, comprising 48 (17.3%) kindergarten children, 37 (13.4%) staff, and 192 (69.3%) household members. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were present in 65.0%, and 52.7% of all participants were vaccinated. Evidence of previous infection was observed in 16.7% of kindergarten children, 16.2% of staff, and 10.4% of household members. Undiagnosed infections were observed in 12.5%, 5.4%, and 3.6%, respectively. Preceding infections were associated with facemask neglect. In conclusion, two-thirds of our cohort were SARS-CoV-2 seroreactive in September 2021, largely as a result of vaccination in adults. Kindergarten children showed the highest proportion of non-vaccine-induced seropositivity and an increased proportion of previously unrecognized SARS-CoV-2 infection. Silent infections in pre-school children need to be considered when interpreting SARS-CoV-2 infections in the kindergarten context. |
