Seroprevalence of Antibodies to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Among Healthcare Workers in Kenya

ABSTRACT

Clin Infect Dis

BACKGROUND: Few studies have assessed the seroprevalence of antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Africa. We report findings from a survey among HCWs in 3 counties in Kenya. METHODS: We recruited 684 HCWs from Kilifi (rural), Busia (rural), and Nairobi (urban) counties. The serosurvey was conducted between 30 July and 4 December 2020. We tested for immunoglobulin G antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Assay sensitivity and specificity were 92.7 (95% CI, 87.9-96.1) and 99.0% (95% CI, 98.1-99.5), respectively. We adjusted prevalence estimates, using bayesian modeling to account for assay performance. RESULTS: The crude overall seroprevalence was 19.7% (135 of 684). After adjustment for assay performance, seroprevalence was 20.8% (95% credible interval, 17.5%-24.4%). Seroprevalence varied significantly (P < .001) by site: 43.8% (95% credible interval, 35.8%-52.2%) in Nairobi, 12.6% (8.8%-17.1%) in Busia and 11.5% (7.2%-17.6%) in Kilifi. In a multivariable model controlling for age, sex, and site, professional cadre was not associated with differences in seroprevalence. CONCLUSION: These initial data demonstrate a high seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 among HCWs in Kenya. There was significant variation in seroprevalence by region, but not by cadre. Etyang, A. O., Lucinde, R., Karanja, H., Kalu, C., Mugo, D., Nyagwange, J., Gitonga, J., Tuju, J., Wanjiku, P., Karani, A., Mutua, S., Maroko, H., Nzomo, E., Maitha, E., Kamuri, E., Kaugiria, T., Weru, J., Ochola, L. B., Kilimo, N., Charo, S., Emukule, N., Moracha, W., Mukabi, D., Okuku, R., Ogutu, M., Angujo, B., Otiende, M., Bottomley, C., Otieno, E., Ndwiga, L., Nyaguara, A., Voller, S., Agoti, C. N., Nokes, D. J., Ochola-Oyier, L. I., Aman, R., Amoth, P., Mwangangi, M., Kasera, K., Ng’ang’a, W., Adetifa, I. M. O., Wangeci Kagucia, E., Gallagher, K., Uyoga, S., Tsofa, B., Barasa, E., Bejon, P., Scott, J. A. G., Agweyu, A., Warimwe, G. M.

Pages:288-293, Volume:74, Edition:4/25/2021, Date,Jan-29

Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33893491

Notes:Etyang, Anthony O|Lucinde, Ruth|Karanja, Henry|Kalu, Catherine|Mugo, Daisy|Nyagwange, James|Gitonga, John|Tuju, James|Wanjiku, Perpetual|Karani, Angela|Mutua, Shadrack|Maroko, Hosea|Nzomo, Eddy|Maitha, Eric|Kamuri, Evanson|Kaugiria, Thuranira|Weru, Justus|Ochola, Lucy B|Kilimo, Nelson|Charo, Sande|Emukule, Namdala|Moracha, Wycliffe|Mukabi, David|Okuku, Rosemary|Ogutu, Monicah|Angujo, Barrack|Otiende, Mark|Bottomley, Christian|Otieno, Edward|Ndwiga, Leonard|Nyaguara, Amek|Voller, Shirine|Agoti, Charles N|Nokes, David James|Ochola-Oyier, Lynette Isabella|Aman, Rashid|Amoth, Patrick|Mwangangi, Mercy|Kasera, Kadondi|Ng’ang’a, Wangari|Adetifa, Ifedayo M O|Wangeci Kagucia, E|Gallagher, Katherine|Uyoga, Sophie|Tsofa, Benjamin|Barasa, Edwine|Bejon, Philip|Scott, J Anthony G|Agweyu, Ambrose|Warimwe, George M|eng|MR/R006083/1/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom|HHSN272201400008C/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/|220991/Z/20/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom|DEL-15-003/DELTAS Africa Initiative|EARF/ITT/039/East Africa Research Fund|203077/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom|Oak Foundation|United Kingdom’s Medical Research Council|MR/R010161/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom|National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases|National Institute for Health Research|NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Immunisation|2268427/University College London|INV-017547/Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation|EP-C-15-003/EPA/EPA/|WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom|Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural|Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov’t|2021/04/25 06:00|Clin Infect Dis. 2022 Jan 29;74(2):288-293. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciab346.

ISBN: 1537-6591 (Electronic)|1058-4838 (Linking) Permanent ID: PMC8135298 Accession Number: 33893491

Author Address: KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya.|KEMRI Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Control Research, Alupe, Kenya.|Kilifi County Hospital, Kilifi, Kenya.|Department of Health, Kilifi County, Kenya.|Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.|Alupe Sub-County Hospital, Busia, Kenya.|Institute of Primate Research, Nairobi, Kenya.|Kocholia Sub-County Hospital, Busia, Kenya.|Busia County Referral Hospital, Busia, Kenya.|Department of Health, Busia County, Busia, Kenya.|Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.|Ministry of Health, Government of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya.|Presidential Policy and Strategy Unit, The Presidency, Government of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya.|Nuffield Department of Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom.

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