Artikel
Longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 specific immune responses in rheumatology professionals for detection of seroconversion: The COVID-19 Contact (CoCo) Study
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Autoren
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Anne Cossmann
- Klinik für Rheumatologie und Immunologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover
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Diana Ernst
- Klinik für Rheumatologie und Immunologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover
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Thea Thiele
- Klinik für Rheumatologie und Immunologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover
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Theresa Graalmann
- Klinik für Rheumatologie und Immunologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover
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Torsten Witte
- Klinik für Rheumatologie und Immunologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover
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Christine Happle
- Klinik für pädiatrische Pneumologie, Allergologie, Neonatologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover
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Georg Behrens
- Klinik für Rheumatologie und Immunologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover
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Alexandra Jablonka
- Klinik für Rheumatologie und Immunologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover
| Veröffentlicht: | 9. September 2020 |
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Gliederung
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Introduction: During the current pandemic, frontline healthcare professionals (HCP) are reported to be at risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thus far, no longitudinal data on seroconversion and COVID-19 risk of HCP in regions with comparably low COVID-19 prevalence and low pre-test probability exist. This is especially true for healthcare professionals working in rheumatology.
Methods: In more than n=100 HCP working in rheumatology at a large university hospital and private practices in Lower Saxony questionnaire based assessments of COVID-19 exposure, symptoms, and risk perception are currently being performed and will be repeated every six months. SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion was analyzed by IgG Anti-SARS-CoV-2 ELISA (Euroimmun, S1) and additional ELISAs and rapid tests when positive to confirm results.
Results: Currently baseline ELISAs from n=16 HCP working at the university hospital, department of rheumatology and n=75 HCP from affiliated rheumatological practices and hospitals for anti-SARS CoV-2 (S1) IgG were performed. At baseline a low rate of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG detection was observed (0% positive, 0% equivocal positive). Currently further serological testing and analysis of questionnaires is being performed and results will be available in time for DRGH 2020.
Conclusion: Our data show a low prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG in rheumatological health care professionals from a region with low COVID-19 prevalence. The rate of antibodies is extremely low, therefore unspecific positive results could pose a problem in interpretation of individual immunity. To assess systemic immunity against SARS-CoV-2, we suggest confirming positive results from single measurements with low pre-test probability by alternative serology tests or neutralizations assays.
We conclude that working as HCP in rheumatology is not a universal risk for SARS-CoV-2 acquisition.
Disclosures: AJ reports grants and personal fees from Novartis, grants and personal fees from Abbvie, grants and personal fees from Gilead, personal fees from Roche, outside the submitted work; TW reports grants and personal fees from Novartis, grants and personal fees from Abbvie, personal fees from Gilead, personal fees from Chugai, personal fees from Sanofi-Aventis, non-financial support from Aesku.Diagnostics, outside the submitted work; DE reports grants and personal fees from Novartis, grants and personal fees from Abbvie, grants and personal fees from Gilead, personal fees from Sanofi Aventis, personal fees from GSK, outside the submitted work; GB reports grants and personalfees from Gilead, and personal fees from ViiV Healthcare, MSD, and Janssen outside the submitted work; Other authors have nothing to disclose.
