Anti-SARS-CoV immunoglobulin G in healthcare workers, Guangzhou, China.
To determine the prevalence of inapparent infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) among healthcare workers, we performed a serosurvey to test for immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies to the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) among 1,147 healthcare workers in 3 hospitals that admitted SARS patients in mid-May 2003. Among them were 90 healthcare workers with SARS. As a reference group, 709 healthcare workers who worked in 2 hospitals that never admitted any SARS patients were similarly tested. The seroprevalence rate was 88.9% (80/90) for healthcare workers with SARS and 1.4% (15/1,057) for healthcare workers who were apparently healthy. The seroprevalence in the reference group was 0.4% (3/709). These findings suggest that inapparent infection is uncommon. Low level of immunity among unaffected healthcare workers reinforces the need for adequate personal protection and other infection control measures in hospitals to prevent future epidemics.
Chen
Wei-Qing
WQ
School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhongshan Road II 74, Guangzhou 510080, People's Republic of China. wqchen@gzsums.edu.cn
Lu
Ci-Yong
CY
Wong
Tze-Wai
TW
Ling
Wen-Hua
WH
Lin
Zhong-Ning
ZN
Hao
Yuan-Tao
YT
Liu
Qing
Q
Fang
Ji-Qian
JQ
He
Yun
Y
Luo
Fu-Tian
FT
Jing
Jin
J
Ling
Li
L
Ma
Xiang
X
Liu
Yi-Min
YM
Chen
Gui-Hua
GH
Huang
Jian
J
Jiang
Yuan-Sen
YS
Jiang
Wen-Qi
WQ
Zou
He-Qun
HQ
Yan
Guang-Mei
GM
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D015995:Prevalence; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G