Review: Asymptomatic seroconversion of immunoglobulins to SARS-CoV-2 in a pediatric dialysis unit

Review: Asymptomatic seroconversion of immunoglobulins to SARS-CoV-2 in a pediatric dialysis unit

This study found that 21 days after a single index SARS-CoV-2 patient at Riley Hospital for Children’s dialysis center, 44% of health care workers had positive SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and 23% of patients had antibodies. 

  • One week before this study began (day 0; March 25, 2020), a single patient presented with fever and generalized symptoms, who was positive for SARS-CoV-2 on PCR by nasopharyngeal swab. Pt was only dialyzed within an isolation room during this time and had repeatedly positive COVID-19 testing during the study period.
  • Serum IgM and IgG levels were measured on study participants on days 7, 14, and 21 (April 1, 2020, to April 15, 2020) using SARS-CoV-2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), with confirmatory testing at Mount Sinai Medical Center.
  • 13 patients, 9 dialysis nurses, 2 nurse practitioners, 4 staff, and 10 physicians participated in the study,
  • Between day 0 and day 7, 2 health care workers had negative PCR test results despite upper respiratory tract symptoms and fevers. One of these health care workers subsequently seroconverted on day 21 despite 3 negative PCR results.
  • No other study participants had nasopharyngeal testing or symptomatology consistent with COVID-19 before day 7.
  • No participants developed symptoms between days 7 and 21.
  • No health care workers who directly cared for the PCR-positive patient seroconverted.

Summary: This was the first study of seroconversion in health care settings, and it found a high prevalence of subclinical seroconversion in individuals interacting in a pediatric dialysis unit.

|2020-05-15T11:31:53-04:00May 14th, 2020|COVID-19 Literature|Comments Off on Review: Asymptomatic seroconversion of immunoglobulins to SARS-CoV-2 in a pediatric dialysis unit

About the Author: Megan McHenry

Megan McHenry
Megan S. McHenry, MD, MS, FAAP is a pediatrician and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Disease and Global Health at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. McHenry's research focuses on early childhood development in children living in resource-limited settings. This work is frequently aligned with community-engaged research and dissemination and implementation science frameworks. She primarily conducts research in collaboration with the Academic Model for Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) Research Network in Kenya. Dr. McHenry currently has a career development award through the National Institutes of Health to develop a neurodevelopmental screening program for children born to HIV-infected mothers in Kenya. Dr. McHenry is also the Director of Pediatric Global Health Education and a co-Director of the Morris Green Physician-Scientist Development Program at Indiana University School of Medicine. In additional to global health lectures, she also educates residents and students on early childhood development, basic biostatistical techniques, research methodologies, and research ethics. She mentors multiple pediatric fellows, residents, and medical students interested in early childhood development within global contexts.

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