Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in healthcare workers at a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to a strain on medical resources. The development of countermeasures to prevent its spread is evolving. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk for contracting and transmitting the disease. METHODS: Serology testing of volunteer HCWs was performed at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh (the Center) in order to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, as well as the associated risk factors, in the hope of implementing adequate prevention and control measures. RESULTS: 1076 subjects participated in this study, of whom 24.3% were seropositive. The majority were nurses (379, 35%) or physicians (245, 22.2%). 392 (36.4%) of the 1076 subjects were caregivers for COVID-19 patients, and 463 (43.0%) reported contact with infected employees. There was a statistically significant association between taking care of COVID-19 patients and being diagnosed with COVID-19 (chi-square test, p = 0.046). There was a significant association between being in contact with infected employees and having a positive IgG result (chi-square test, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A baseline analysis of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in HCWs at a large tertiary care hospital in Riyadh was performed as the first part of a prospective study of HCWs. The reported seropositivity was 24.3% — higher than that of other hospitals in Riyadh. IgG testing was very useful in the detection of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, as it has high negative predictive value.