Oygar, Pembe DerinBüyükcam, AyşeŞahbudak Bal, ZümrütDalgıç, NazanBozdemir, Şefika ElmasSütçü, MuratGül, DorukHatipoğlu, Halil Uğur2021-11-152021-11-152021Oygar, P. D., Büyükçam, A., Bal, Z. Ş., Dalgıç, N., Bozdemir, Ş. E., Karbuz, A., ... & Kara, A. (2021). SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among pediatric health care personnel after the first peak of pandemic: A nationwide surveillance. International Journal of Infectious Diseases.1201-9712https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.09.054https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12713/2234Background: Understanding SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among health care personnel is important to explore risk factors for transmission, develop elimination strategies and form a view on the necessity and frequency of surveillance in the future. Methods: We enrolled 4927 health care personnel working in pediatric units at 32 hospitals from 7 different regions of Turkey in a study to determine SARS Co-V-2 seroprevalence after the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. A point of care serologic lateral flow rapid test kit for immunoglobulin (Ig)M/IgG was used. Seroprevalence and its association with demographic characteristics and possible risk factors were analyzed. Results: SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity prevalence in health care personnel tested was 6.1%. Seropositivity was more common among those who did not universally wear protective masks (10.6% vs 6.1%). Having a COVID-19-positive co-worker increased the likelihood of infection. The least and the most experienced personnel were more likely to be infected. Most of the seropositive health care personnel (68.0%) did not suspect that they had previously had COVID-19. Conclusions: Health surveillance for health care personnel involving routine point-of-care nucleic acid testing and monitoring personal protective equipment adherence are suggested as important strategies to protect health care personnel from COVID-19 and reduce nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 transmission. © 2021 The Author(s)eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessSARS-CoV-2Health Care PersonnelSerologyCOVID-19Personnel Protective Equipment UseArticle113184189WOS:0007183026000292-s2.0-85118533389Q210.1016/j.ijid.2021.09.054Q1