Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infected health care workers (HCWs) and to measure their immunoglobulin G (IgG) response. Methods: This is a retrospective and prospective cohort study where details of COVID-19 infected HCWs were collected in a pre-designed database in Al-Nahdha Hospital between 2 April and 24 July 2020. A single serum sample was collected from participating HCWs to detect the presence of IgG in their sera. Results: Out of 974 HCWs, 103 (10.6%) were infected and tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Nurses and doctors were the most affected groups. The source of infection was the hospital in 50.0% of cases. Nurses were more than four times likely to have a hospital-acquired COVID-19 infection (odds ratio = 4.63, 95% confidence interval: 1.71–12.52, p-value = 0.002). HCWs working in COVID-19 areas were more likely to have hospital-acquired infection than community-acquired infection (p < 0.005). All infected HCWs made a full recovery, with only 3.9% requiring admission. Out of 74 tested HCWs for IgG, 60 (81.1%) were positive. IgG positivity rate was significantly higher among HCWs in COVID-19 areas (p = 0.026) and among non-Omanis (p = 0.008). Moreover, the median IgG level was significantly higher among non-Omanis (p = 0.004). Conclusions: This study has highlighted the group at higher risk of hospital-acquired COVID-19 infection which was nurses and those working in COVID-19 areas. It highlighted as well the high seropositivity among this infected group. These findings support the national guidelines on priority groups for vaccination among HCWs working in COVID-19 areas with no previous laboratory-confirmed COVID-19.
Keywords
Publication details
- DOI
- 10.5001/omj.2021.116
- Journal
- Oman Medical Journal
- Publisher
- Oman Medical Specialty Board
- Open access
- Gold open access
Cite this article
APA 7
Al-Siyabi, N., Al-Lawati, A., Al-Lawati, M., Al-Wahibi, I., Al-Nasseri, M., Al-Maashari, A., Al-Jabri, H., Al-Salti, B., & Al-Shukri, I. (2021). Characteristics and Immunoglobulin G Seropositivity among COVID-19 Positive Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Oman. Oman Medical Journal. https://doi.org/10.5001/omj.2021.116
MLA 9
Al-Siyabi, Nada, et al. "Characteristics and Immunoglobulin G Seropositivity among COVID-19 Positive Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Oman." Oman Medical Journal, 2021. https://doi.org/10.5001/omj.2021.116.
Chicago (author–date)
Al-Siyabi, Nada, Aliya Al-Lawati, Mujtaba Al-Lawati, Iman Al-Wahibi, Muna Al-Nasseri, Aziza Al-Maashari, Hafidha Al-Jabri, Badriya Al-Salti, and Intisar Al-Shukri. 2021. "Characteristics and Immunoglobulin G Seropositivity among COVID-19 Positive Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Oman." Oman Medical Journal. https://doi.org/10.5001/omj.2021.116.
Harvard
Al-Siyabi, N., Al-Lawati, A., Al-Lawati, M., Al-Wahibi, I., Al-Nasseri, M., Al-Maashari, A., Al-Jabri, H., Al-Salti, B. and Al-Shukri, I. (2021) 'Characteristics and Immunoglobulin G Seropositivity among COVID-19 Positive Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Oman', Oman Medical Journal. doi:10.5001/omj.2021.116.
Vancouver
Al-Siyabi N, Al-Lawati A, Al-Lawati M, Al-Wahibi I, Al-Nasseri M, Al-Maashari A, et al. Characteristics and Immunoglobulin G Seropositivity among COVID-19 Positive Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Oman. Oman Medical Journal. 2021. doi:10.5001/omj.2021.116
IEEE
N. Al-Siyabi, A. Al-Lawati, M. Al-Lawati, I. Al-Wahibi, M. Al-Nasseri, A. Al-Maashari, H. Al-Jabri, B. Al-Salti, and I. Al-Shukri, "Characteristics and Immunoglobulin G Seropositivity among COVID-19 Positive Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Oman," Oman Medical Journal, 2021, doi: 10.5001/omj.2021.116.