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Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in a Large Cohort of Italian Police Officers

Author

Listed:
  • Sergio Garbarino

    (Italy State Police Health Service Department, Ministry of Interior, 00198 Rome, Italy
    Post-Graduate School of Occupational Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Alexander Domnich

    (Hygiene Unit, San Martino Policlinico Hospital-IRCCS for Oncology and Neurosciences, 16132 Genoa, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Elisabetta Costa

    (Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy)

  • Irene Giberti

    (Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy)

  • Stefano Mosca

    (Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy)

  • Cristiano Belfiore

    (Italy State Police Health Service Department, Ministry of Interior, 00198 Rome, Italy)

  • Fabrizio Ciprani

    (Italy State Police Health Service Department, Ministry of Interior, 00198 Rome, Italy)

  • Giancarlo Icardi

    (Hygiene Unit, San Martino Policlinico Hospital-IRCCS for Oncology and Neurosciences, 16132 Genoa, Italy
    Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy)

Abstract

Certain professional categories are at a high occupational exposure to COVID-19. The aim of this survey was to quantify the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among police officers in Italy and identify its correlates. In this cross-sectional study, a nationally representative sample of State police employees was tested for IgG and IgM before the start of the National vaccination campaign. A total of 10,535 subjects (approximately 10% of the total workforce) participated in the study. The overall seroprevalence was 4.8% (95% CI: 4.4–5.3%). However, seropositivity was unevenly distributed across the country with a clear ( p < 0.001) North–South gradient. In particular, the seroprevalence was 5.6 times higher in northern regions than in southern regions (9.0% vs. 1.6%). Most (71.2%) seropositive subjects reported having no recent symptoms potentially attributable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Previous dysosmia, dysgeusia, and influenza-like illness symptoms were positive predictors of being seropositive. However, the prognostic value of dysosmia depended ( p < 0.05) on both sex and prior influenza-like illness. The baseline seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in police employees is considerable. A significant risk of occupational exposure, frequent asymptomatic cases and the progressive waning of neutralizing antibodies suggest that the police workers should be considered among the job categories prioritized for the booster COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Suggested Citation

  • Sergio Garbarino & Alexander Domnich & Elisabetta Costa & Irene Giberti & Stefano Mosca & Cristiano Belfiore & Fabrizio Ciprani & Giancarlo Icardi, 2021. "Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in a Large Cohort of Italian Police Officers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-9, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:22:p:12201-:d:683963
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Armando De Carlo & Sergio Lo Caputo & Carmela Paolillo & Anna Maria Rosa & Umberto D’Orsi & Maria De Palma & Pierluigi Reveglia & Donato Lacedonia & Gilda Cinnella & Maria Pia Foschino & Maurizio Marg, 2020. "SARS-COV-2 Serological Profile in Healthcare Professionals of a Southern Italy Hospital," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Paola Della Valle & Marco Fabbri & Fabiana Madotto & Pietro Ferrara & Paolo Cozzolino & Elisabetta Calabretto & Marco Italo D’Orso & Ermanno Longhi & Riccardo Polosa & Michele Augusto Riva & Giampiero, 2021. "Occupational Exposure in the Lombardy Region (Italy) to SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Results from the MUSTANG–OCCUPATION–COVID-19 Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-14, March.
    3. Xinyang Li & Xianrui Zhong & Yongbo Wang & Xiantao Zeng & Ting Luo & Qing Liu, 2021. "Clinical determinants of the severity of COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(5), pages 1-21, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Stefania Paduano & Pasquale Galante & Nausicaa Berselli & Luca Ugolotti & Alberto Modenese & Alessandro Poggi & Marcella Malavolti & Sara Turchi & Isabella Marchesi & Roberto Vivoli & Paola Perlini & , 2022. "Seroprevalence Survey of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in a Population of Emilia-Romagna Region, Northern Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-11, June.

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