key: cord-0962208-bgn0kwe1 authors: Yoshihara, T.; Ito, K.; Zaitsu, M.; Chung, E.; Aoyagi, I.; Kaji, R.; Tsuru, T.; Yonemura, T.; Yamaguchi, K.; Nakayama, S.; Tanaka, Y.; Yurino, N.; Koyanagi, H.; Matsuki, S.; Urae, R.; Irie, S. title: SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among healthcare workers in general hospitals and clinics in Japan date: 2021-01-25 journal: nan DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.23.21249922 sha: a0704688dd1517ec6018269c5425ef0cd24e78fd doc_id: 962208 cord_uid: bgn0kwe1 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a serious public health problem worldwide. However, little is known about the prevalence of COVID-19 among healthcare workers in Japan. We aimed to examine the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies among 2,160 healthcare workers in general hospitals and clinics in Japan. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G was 1.2% in August and October 2020, which is relatively higher than that in the general population in Japan. Because of the higher risk of COVID-19 infection, healthcare workers should be the top priority for further social support and vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. perpetuity. preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in The copyright holder for this this version posted January 25, 2021. ; https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.23.21249922 doi: medRxiv preprint NOTE: This preprint reports new research that has not been certified by peer review and should not be used to guide clinical practice. preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in healthcare workers in Japan. We aimed to examine the seroprevalence of severe acute 51 respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies among 2,160 healthcare 52 workers in general hospitals and clinics in Japan. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 53 immunoglobulin G was 1.2% in August and October 2020, which is relatively higher than 54 that in the general population in Japan. Because of the higher risk of COVID-19 infection, 55 healthcare workers should be the top priority for further social support and vaccination 56 against SARS-CoV-2. 57 58 All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. perpetuity. preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in The prevalence of IgG antibodies was higher among the 20-29-year and 60-113 69-year age groups compared with other age groups, whereas no significant difference 114 was observed between women and men ( Table 2 ). The prevalence of IgG antibodies was 115 relatively, but not significantly, higher among nurses, nursing care staff, and 116 receptionists ( Table 2) . Among the 28 participants who had at least one IgG-positive test CoV-2 IgG antibodies among healthcare workers was 1.2% in August and October 128 2020. It has been reported that the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in healthcare 129 workers was higher than that in the general population (2,4). Our study also 130 All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. perpetuity. preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in The copyright holder for this this version posted January 25, 2021. ; https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.23.21249922 doi: medRxiv preprint 8 demonstrated that the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was relatively higher in 131 healthcare workers than in the general population in Japan. The 20-29-year and 60-69-year age groups had high prevalence of SARS-CoV- perpetuity. preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in The copyright holder for this this version posted January 25, 2021. ; https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.23.21249922 doi: medRxiv preprint 9 infection. One limitation of this study is that only one antibody assay kit was used. As PCR In conclusion, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies among healthcare 158 workers in Japan was 1.2%, which was relatively higher than that in Japan's general 159 population. Healthcare workers are at higher risk of infection; hence, they should be the 160 top priority for further social support and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. perpetuity. preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in The copyright holder for this this version posted January 25, 2021. ; https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.23.21249922 doi: medRxiv preprint Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibodies in Utsunomiya City, Greater Tokyo, after first pandemic in 2020 (U CORONA): a household-and population-based study Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies 190 and associated factors in healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-191 analysis Antibodies in Scottish Healthcare Workers. medRxiv. 2020. 197 doi Humoral Immune Response to 199 SARS-CoV-2 in Iceland All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. perpetuity preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in The copyright holder for this this version posted Persisting Neutralizing Activity to 202 SARS-CoV-2 over Months in Sera of COVID-19 Patients Persistence of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in 205 COVID-19 patients Antibody Responses 8 Months after 208 Asymptomatic or Mild SARS-CoV-2 Infection All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. perpetuity preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in The copyright holder for this this version posted preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in The copyright holder for this this version posted January 25, 2021. ; https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.23.21249922 doi: medRxiv preprint