Emergency Response for Evaluating SARS-CoV-2 Immune Status, Seroprevalence and Convalescent Plasma in Argentina

ABSTRACTWe report the emergency development and application of a robust serologic test to evaluate acute and convalescent antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in Argentina. The assays, COVIDAR IgG and IgM, which were produced and provided for free to health authorities, private and public health institutions and nursing homes, use a combination of a trimer stabilized spike protein and the receptor binding domain (RBD) in a single enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) plate. Over half million tests have already been distributed to detect and quantify antibodies for multiple purposes, including assessment of immune responses in hospitalized patients and large seroprevalence studies in neighborhoods, slums and health care workers, which resulted in a powerful tool for asymptomatic detection and policy making in the country. Analysis of antibody levels and longitudinal studies of symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections in over one thousand patient samples provided insightful information about IgM and IgG seroconversion time and kinetics, and IgM waning profiles. At least 35% of patients showed seroconversion within 7 days, and 95% within 45 days of symptoms onset, with simultaneous or close sequential IgM and IgG detection. Longitudinal studies of asymptomatic cases showed a wide range of antibody responses with median levels below those observed in symptomatic patients. Regarding convalescent plasma applications, a protocol was standardized for the assessment of end point IgG antibody titers with COVIDAR with more than 500 plasma donors. The protocol showed a positive correlation with neutralizing antibody titers, and was used to assess antibody titers for clinical trials and therapies across the country. Here, we demonstrate the importance of providing a robust and specific serologic assay for generating new information about antibody kinetics in infected individuals and mitigation policies to cope with pandemic needs.AUTHOR SUMMARYThe development of robust and specific serologic assays to detect antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 is essential to understand the pandemic evolution and to stablish mitigation strategies. Here, we report the emergency development, production and application of a versatile ELISA test for detecting antibodies against the whole spike protein and its receptor binding domain. Over half million tests have been freely distributed in public and private health institutions of Argentina for evaluating immune responses, convalescent plasma programs and for large seroprevalence studies in neighborhoods and health care workers. We are still learning how and when to use serologic testing in different epidemiological settings. This program allowed us to produce large amount of high quality data on antibody levels in symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections and generate relevant information about IgM and IgG seroconversion time and kinetics. We also present standardized protocols for antibody quantification as guidance for convalescent donor plasma selection in hospitals throughout the country for compassionate use and clinical trials. Here, we provide a framework for generating widely available tools, protocols and information of antibody responses for pandemic management.

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Seasonal Betacoronavirus Antibodies’ Expansion Post-BNT161b2 Vaccination Associates with Reduced SARS-CoV-2 VoC Neutralization

Journal of Clinical Immunology ◽

10.1007/s10875-021-01190-5 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Stefania Dispinseri ◽

Ilaria Marzinotto ◽

Cristina Brigatti ◽

Maria Franca Pirillo ◽

Monica Tolazzi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Spike Protein ◽

Post Vaccination ◽

Care Workers ◽

Sequential Samples ◽

Alpha Beta ◽

Antibody Levels ◽

Neutralization Ability

AbstractSARS-CoV-2 vaccination is known to induce antibodies that recognize also variants of concerns (VoCs) of the virus. However, epidemiological and laboratory evidences indicate that these antibodies have a reduced neutralization ability against VoCs. We studied binding and neutralizing antibodies against the Spike protein domains and subunits of the Wuhan-Hu-1 virus and its alpha, beta, delta VoCs and of seasonal betacoronaviruses (HKU1 and OC43) in a cohort of 31 health care workers prospectively followed post-vaccination with BNT162b2-Comirnaty. The study of sequential samples collected up to 64 days post-vaccination showed that serological assays measuring IgG against Wuhan-Hu-1 antigens were a poor proxy for VoC neutralization. In addition, in subjects who had asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 prior to vaccination, the loss of nAbs following disease could be rapid and accompanied by post-vaccination antibody levels similar to those of naïve vaccinees. Interestingly, in health care workers naïve for SARS-CoV-2 infection, vaccination induced a rapid and transient reactivation of pre-existing seasonal coronaviruses IgG responses that was associated with a subsequent reduced ability to neutralize alpha and beta VoCs.

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Persistence and baseline determinants of seropositivity and reinfection rates in health care workers up to 12.5 months after COVID-19

10.21203/rs.3.rs-142984/v2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Carlota Dobaño ◽

Anna Ramirez ◽

Selena Alonso ◽

Josep Vidal-Alaball ◽

Gemma Ruiz-Olalla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

First Episode ◽

Primary Health Care Worker ◽

Primary Health ◽

Care Workers ◽

Passive Case Detection ◽

Antibody Levels ◽

Care Worker

Abstract We assessed the duration and baseline determinants of antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 spike antigens and the occurrence of reinfections in a prospective cohort of 173 Spanish primary health care worker patients followed up initially for nine months and subsequently up to 12.5 months after COVID-19 symptoms onset. Seropositivity to SARS-CoV-2 spike and receptor binding domain antigens up to 149-270 days was 92.49% (90.17% IgG, 76.3% IgA, 60.69% IgM). In a subset of 64 health care workers who had not yet been vaccinated by April 2021, seropositivity was 96.88% (95.31% IgG, 82.81% IgA) up to 322-379 days post symptoms onset. There were four suspected reinfections detected by passive case detection, two among seronegative individuals (five and seven months after the first episode), and one low antibody responder. Antibody levels significantly correlated with fever, hospitalization, anosmia/hypogeusia, allergies, smoking and occupation. Stable sustainment of IgG responses raises hope for long-lasting COVID-19 vaccine immunity.

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Persistence and baseline determinants of seropositivity and reinfection rates in health care workers up to 12.5 months after COVID-19

BMC Medicine ◽

10.1186/s12916-021-02032-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Carlota Dobaño ◽

Anna Ramírez-Morros ◽

Selena Alonso ◽

Josep Vidal-Alaball ◽

Gemma Ruiz-Olalla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

First Episode ◽

Primary Health Care Worker ◽

Primary Health ◽

Care Workers ◽

Passive Case Detection ◽

Antibody Levels ◽

Care Worker

AbstractWe assessed the duration and baseline determinants of antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 spike antigens and the occurrence of reinfections in a prospective cohort of 173 Spanish primary health care worker patients followed initially for 9 months and subsequently up to 12.5 months after COVID-19 symptoms onset. Seropositivity to SARS-CoV-2 spike and receptor-binding domain antigens up to 149–270 days was 92.49% (90.17% IgG, 76.3% IgA, 60.69% IgM). In a subset of 64 health care workers who had not yet been vaccinated by April 2021, seropositivity was 96.88% (95.31% IgG, 82.81% IgA) up to 322–379 days post symptoms onset. Four suspected reinfections were detected by passive case detection, two among seronegative individuals (5 and 7 months after the first episode), and one low antibody responder. Antibody levels significantly correlated with fever, hospitalization, anosmia/hypogeusia, allergies, smoking, and occupation. Stable sustainment of IgG responses raises hope for long-lasting COVID-19 vaccine immunity.

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Persistence and baseline determinants of seropositivity in health care workers up to nine months after COVID-19

10.21203/rs.3.rs-142984/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carlota Dobaño ◽

Anna Ramirez ◽

Selena Alonso ◽

Josep Vidal-Alaball ◽

Gemma Ruiz-Olalla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Primary Health Care ◽

Health Care Worker ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Primary Health Care Worker ◽

Primary Health ◽

Care Workers ◽

Antibody Levels ◽

Care Worker

Abstract We determined the duration and baseline determinants of antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 up to nine months after COVID-19 symptoms onset in 173 primary health care worker patients from Spain. Seropositivity to SARS-CoV-2 spike and RBD antigens was 92.49% (60.69% IgM, 76.3% IgA, 90.17% IgG), with four suspected reinfection cases. Antibody levels significantly correlated with fever, hospitalization, anosmia/hypogeusia, allergies, smoking and occupation, and persisted 149-270 days in this cohort of patients

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Violence in health institutions: A survey of health care workers in west Turkey

Annals of Saudi Medicine ◽

10.5144/0256-4947.2004.64 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 64-65 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Unal Ayranci ◽

Cınar Yenilmez ◽

Fezan Sahin ◽

Yasemin Gunay ◽

Ilhami Unluoglu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Care Workers ◽

Health Institutions

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Relationship Of Pneumocystis KEX1 Antibody Responses To Pneumocystis Colonization In Health Care Workers

10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2010.181.1_meetingabstracts.a5217 ◽

2010 ◽

Author(s):

Jan Kristoff ◽

Serena Fong ◽

Renuka Tipirneni ◽

Leah Jarlsberg ◽

Laurence Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Care Workers ◽

Relationship Of

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Differential cellular recognition pattern to M. tuberculosis targets defined by IFN-γ and IL-17 production in blood from TB + patients from Honduras as compared to health care workers: TB and immune responses in patients from Honduras

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/1471-2334-13-125 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Nancy Alvarez-Corrales ◽

Raija K Ahmed ◽

Carol A Rodriguez ◽

Kithiganahalli N Balaji ◽

Rebeca Rivera ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Recognition Pattern ◽

Care Workers ◽

Cellular Recognition ◽

Ifn Γ

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A(H1N1)pdm09 Vaccination of Health Care Workers: Improved Immune Responses in Low Responders Following Revaccination

The Journal of Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/infdis/jis589 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 206 (11) ◽

pp. 1660-1669 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Rishi Delan Pathirana ◽

Geir Bredholt ◽

Per Espen Akselsen ◽

Gabriel Kristian Pedersen ◽

Rebecca Jane Cox

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Low Responders ◽

Care Workers

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Assessment of Prevalence and Determinants of Occupational Exposure to HIV Infection among Healthcare Workers in Selected Health Institutions in Debre Berhan Town, North Shoa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, 2014

AIDS Research and Treatment ◽

10.1155/2014/731848 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Filmawit Aynalem Tesfay ◽

Tesfa Dejenie Habtewold

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Occupational Exposure ◽

Virus Infection ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

The Past ◽

Care Workers ◽

Debre Berhan ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Health Institutions

Introduction. Health care workers are exposed to different kinds of occupational hazards due to their day to day activities. The most common occupational exposure like body fluids is a potential risk of transmission of blood-borne infection like human immunodeficiency virus.Objective.To assess the prevalence and determinants of occupational exposure to human immunodeficiency virus infection.Methods and Materials. A descriptive cross-sectional institution based study was conducted in selected four health institutions in Debre Berhan town. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected using semistructured interviewer administered questionnaire. The frequency distribution of dependent and independent variables was worked out and presented using frequency table, graph, and chart.Result. The overall prevalence of occupational exposure of the health care workers was found to be 88.6% (n=187) in the past 12 months. Contact to potentially infectious body fluids accounts for the largest proportion (56.7%) followed by needle stick injury (31.5%) and glove breakage (28.8%).Conclusion. In this study majority (88.6%) of the health care workers had a risky occupational hazard that exposed them to human immunodeficiency virus infection during the past 12 months. The statistically significant determinant factors were professional status, working room, and time of personal protective equipment usage.

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