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Exposure assessment
Original research
Serological study of healthcare workers in four different hospitals in Madrid (Spain) with no previous history of COVID-19
  1. Fabián Vázquez Rivas1,
  2. Sandra Nieto Schwarz1,
  3. Jaime Villarreal Carreño1,
  4. Ámbar Deschamps Perdomo2,
  5. Ghino Patricio Villanueva2,
  6. Mayra Garrafa2,
  7. M Teresa del Campo1
  1. 1 Occupational Health and Prevention Department, Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital - Quirónsalud, Madrid, Spain
  2. 2 Occupational Health and Prevention Department, Infanta Elena University Hospital, Rey Juan Carlos University Hospital and Villalba General Hospital, Madrid, Spain
  1. Correspondence to Dr Fabián Vázquez Rivas, Occupational Health and Prevention, Hospital Universitario Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Madrid, Madrid, Spain; fabian.vazquez{at}quironsalud.es

Abstract

Objectives Healthcare workers (HCWs) have been one of the most severely affected groups during the COVID-19 pandemic, though few studies have sought to determine the rate of undiagnosed cases among this population. In this study, we aim to determine the rate of undetected infection in HCWs, a potential source of nosocomial infection.

Methods Serological screening for IgG and IgM antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was carried out among HCWs from four different hospitals in Madrid, Spain, from 6 April to 25 April 2020; HCWs with a previous diagnosis of infection based on real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR assay performed after presenting compatible symptoms were excluded. Prevalence of IgG and IgM antibodies was calculated among HCWs to obtain the rate of COVID-19 presence of antibodies in each hospital.

Results Of the 7121 HCWs studied, 6344 (89.09%) had not been previously diagnosed with COVID-19. A total of 5995 HCWs finally participated in the study, resulting in a participation rate of 94.49%. A positive IgM or IgG test against COVID-19 was revealed in 16.21% of the HCWs studied (n=972).

Conclusion This study reveals the importance of early detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs to prevent nosocomial infection and exposure of patients, visitors and workers and the spread of COVID-19 in the overall community.

  • epidemiology
  • health and safety
  • occupational health practice

Data availability statement

All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2253-8173).

This article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ’s website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.

https://bmj.com/coronavirus/usage

https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2020-107001

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    Data availability statement

    All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2253-8173).

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors MTdC: designed the study and provided supervision. All authors: contributed to data collection, data analysis and data interpretation and reviewed the manuscript. FVR: wrote the manuscript and produced the figures.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.