Serological profile of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare professionals at a Federal University Hospital of the Amazon

Abstract

There is a great concern of health professionals facing SARS-CoV-2 infection due to its high infectivity and transmissibility and because they are in the front line in the fight against the new virus. Serological tests for COVID-19 identify the level of exposure and immunity by detecting IgM and/or IgG antibodies in the blood of individuals. However, so far little is known about the design of this immune response. This study aimed to describe the immunological profile, in relation to the presence of IgM and/or IgG antibodies, in health professionals at the Getúlio Vargas University Hospital of the Federal University of Amazonas. This is an observational, retrospective and descriptive study of health professionals, medical residents and multidisciplinary care areas, attended at the Clinical Analysis Laboratory of the Getúlio Vargas University Hospital, in the city of Manaus-AM, in the period of April, 2020 to March 2021, of convenience sampling, in the analysis of the results of Rapid Tests for COVID-19 and the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, comparing between the groups of reagent and non-reactive professionals for SARS-CoV-2, as well as the rate of seroconversion and immunological memory time. The research project was approved by the UFAM ethics council under number 38542620.4.0000.5020. In this study, 91 health professionals were evaluated, and 51 (56%) were positive for the Rapid Test for the presence of antibodies against SARS-Cov2. The most common immunological profile was of the IgM(+) and IgG(-) type in 20 (39%) participants. Most were female, aged between 41 and 60 years, in the nursing category, with specialization education. Most work at another health facility, with a workload of 40 hours per week. There was a significant difference when evaluating the presence of symptoms with the reactivity of rapid tests for antibodies (p<0.001), with 82% of professionals being symptomatic for COVID-19, with a report of fatigue (20%), cough (15%) , sore throat (13%), fever (12%) and anosmia (12%). The rapid antibody test showed a statistically significant relationship with the RT-PCR test (p=0.010), showing that the tests were in agreement and, if performed during the indication period, they can contribute more assertively in the detection of SARS-CoV- 2 and diagnosis of the disease. No significant data were obtained in relation to sex, age, profession, education, working in another health facility, workload, blood typing and Rh factor, among others. In this study, the seroconversion rate (59%) was lower and the conversion time was longer when compared to other studies. The duration of antibody (IgG) permanence was shorter than that reported in the literature. Although the pandemic caused by COVID19 imposes great exposure on the part of health professionals, in the present study, a high rate of seropositivity was not found, as expected by the national scenario. Despite the growing number of studies related to this change, the production of knowledge in the population of Amazonas is still scarce, suggesting that further studies be carried out.