Banca de DEFESA: HELEN REGINA SILVA SODRE DE MATOS

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : HELEN REGINA SILVA SODRE DE MATOS
DATE: 19/08/2022
TIME: 09:00
LOCAL: VIRTUAL/PLATAFORMA RNP
TITLE:

Assessment of exposure factors to SARS-CoV-2 in the professionals of the extension laboratories of the Faculty of Pharmacy - Federal University of Bahia, and monitoring of seroconversion to COVID-19

KEY WORDS:

SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, RISK FACTORS, SEROPREVALENCE.

PAGES: 60
BIG AREA: Ciências Biológicas
AREA: Imunologia
SUBÁREA: Imunologia Aplicada
SUMMARY:

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 brought impacts to the entire population, especially to health professionals who were most exposed to the virus. Thus, knowledge of the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthcare professionals is important to understand the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. The objective of this work was to determine and monitor the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection in employees of the extension laboratories of the Faculty of Pharmacy of UFBA and the associated risk factors, through viral RNA and specific serum antibodies, at the return of their in-person activities during the pandemic. Eighty-five laboratory collaborators were monitored for 6 months for the detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies and viral RNA, before being vaccinated for COVID-19. Antibody detection was performed by serological tests, such as enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) and chemiluminescence, while viral RNA analysis was performed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). In addition, a questionnaire was applied to collect sociodemographic and risk factors for transmission of COVID-19 information. The seroprevalence for IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 12.99% (95%CI, 7.21 - 22.28) at baseline and 24.10% (95%CI, 16 .17 - 34.31) by the end of the study. Persistence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among seropositive participants was at least 6 months. Low education level and family income ≤ 3 minimum wages were significantly associated with the presence of IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Individuals who did not complete high school were 10.76 times (95%CI, 1.051 – 110.21) more likely to be seropositive. The presence of COVID-19-related signs and symptoms was also significantly associated with seroconversion. Among these, the most frequently reported were fever, sore throat, headache, dyspnea and loss of smell or taste. The results allow us to conclude that the investigated laboratory workers had a relatively high prevalence of IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, although no evidence of transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace was found. Biosafety education and non-pharmacological prevention measures were efficient in mitigating the transmission of COVID-19 among the team of professionals and collaborators of the extension laboratories of the Faculty of Pharmacy of Federal University of Bahia.

BANKING MEMBERS:
Presidente - 3187360 - MARCIA CRISTINA AQUINO TEIXEIRA
Interna - 2584365 - LUCIANA SANTOS CARDOSO
Externo ao Programa - 2236977 - ANTONIO RICARDO KHOURI CUNHA