الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a tremendous psychosocial and economic disparity amongst the population. The unexpected sudden economical, medical and psychological burden was the main leading cause of the unpreparedness and the struggles experienced by the world health institutions. The risk of HCWs testing positive for COVID-19 was higher than people living in general community.
6.1.2 Methods
This study had been performed at one of the COVID-19 isolation hospitals in Alexandria. It aimed at the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM among vaccinated and non-vaccinated HCWs in addition to the identification of the risk factors for the exposure to COVID-19. Out of 142 HCWs a sample size of 108 was required to fulfil the aim of the study. Blood Samples were obtained from the vaccinated group of participants, one month after receiving the second dose of Sinopharm vaccine, the non-vaccinated group were sampled at the same time. Samples were tested for the presence of IgG and IgM using ELISA technique.
6.1.3 Results
The results of the present study revealed that:
• Among the 108 HCWs, 60 (55.6 %) participants were females and 48 (44.4%) were males. Seventy participants (64.8%) reported no history of COVID-19 infection. The majority, eighty participants (79.6%) were working in various medical sectors of no contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients, while 28 (20.4%) were ICU specialists in the COVID-19 isolation sector. Twenty-one (19.4%) of the HCWs were smokers.
• Among the 108 HCWs, 72 (66.7%) were vaccinated and 36 (33.3%) were non vaccinated. IgG and/or IgM were positive in 18 (16.7%) vaccinated HCWs with history of COVID-19 infection, and in 34 (31.5%) without history of infection. The corresponding figures of the immunoglobulins for non-vaccinated HCWs were 6 (5.6%) and 5 (4.6%), respectively.
• IgG was positive in 50 (69.4%) vaccinated HCWs versus 11 (30.6%) non-vaccinated HCWs. IgM was positive in 42 (58.4%) vaccinated participants compared to 7 (19.4%) non-vaccinated participants.
• Concerning history of previous infection, 38 HCWs reported having past symptomatic experience, out of whom 6 (15.8%) were screened positive for IgG only, 1 (2.6%) for IgM only and 17 (44.7%) positive for both.
• IgG was positive in 56 (63.6%) exposed (to infection or vaccination) HCWs versus 5 (25%) non-exposed. IgM was found to be positive in 46 (52.3%) exposed participants compared to 3 (15%) non-exposed participants.
• Out of 38 HCWs who reported history of COVID-19 infection, 3 (7.9%) were COVID managing ICU specialists, whereas 35 (92.1%) were among other specialties.
Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations
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• Sixteen males (42.1%) HCWs compared to 22 (57.9%) females reported a history of COVID-19 infection.
• The median age of HCWs with previous COVID-19 infection acquirement was 28 years, while that of those with no such history was 33 years.
6.2 Conclusions
1. IgG and / or IgM were significantly higher among vaccinated HCWs than non-vaccinated participants.
2. IgG and / or IgM were significantly higher among participants reporting history of exposure either through vaccination or previous infection.
3. IgG and IgM in the studied 108 HCWs showed a statistically significant positive correlation.
4. Significant predictors of COVID -19 infection were speciality and being non vaccinated.
6.3 Recommendations
1. Encouragement of vaccination among HCWs even in presence of previous infection.
2. Compliance to safety and disease control measures is mandatory in all medical sectors.
3. Further follow up studies are required to determine the protection of antibodies against COVID-19 reinfection.