Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the magnitude and durability of the anti-nucleocapsid-IgG antibody titer in healthcare workers previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 for a period of 12 months. Methods: This study examined blood samples for SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG collected periodically from 120 healthcare workers previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 (confirmed by RT-PCR) and followed longitudinally up to 12 months from their enrolment into the study. Results: The median anti-N-IgG antibody level identified at 3 months was 23.7 CO-index (IQR: 9.13–50.27) and increased to 32.9 CO-index (IQR: 11.8–84.4) at 6 months. At 9 months, the median anti-N-IgG antibody level started to wane in the subsequent time and was dropped to 14 CO-index (IQR: 3.4–37.6) and declined further to 9.8 CO-index at 12 months (IQR: 2.8–9.8). When classified by age groups, the only statistically significant difference in anti-N-IgG between the two age groups (≤30 years and >30 years) was identified at 12 month time point (median difference 8.06, p = 0.035). Spearman correlation coefficient was negatively associated between anti-N-IgG and time interval ( r = −0.255, p = 0.000) but was not statistically significant with age of a patient ( p > 0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels started declining after 6 months but remained detectable in the majority of patients up to 12 months.

To synthesize the direct and indirect evidence on comparative effectiveness of various interventions for while spot lesions (WSLs) associated with fixed ap

Review articles highlighting importance of various issues in the domain of public health, drug and medical education

Background: High number of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients has overburdened healthcare delivery system, particularly in low-income countries. In the recent past many studies from the developed countries have been published on the prevalence of SARS CoV-2 antibodies and the risk factors of COVID-19 in healthcare-workers but little is known from developing countries. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody and risk factors for seropositivity in HCWs in tertiary-care hospitals of Peshawar city, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Pakistan. Results: The overall seroprevalence of SARS CoV-2 antibodies was 30·7% (CI, 27·8–33·6) in 1011 HCWs. Laboratory technicians had the highest seropositivity (50·0%, CI, 31·8–68·1). Risk analysis revealed that wearing face-mask and observing social-distancing within a family could reduce the risk (OR:0·67. p<0·05) and (OR:0·73. p<0·05) while the odds of seropositivity were higher among those attending funeral and visiting local-markets (OR:1·83. p<0·05) and (OR:1·66. p<0·01). In Univariable analysis, being a nursing staff and a paramedical staff led to higher risk of seropositivity (OR:1.58. p< 0·05), (OR:1·79. p< 0·05). Fever (OR:2·36, CI, 1·52– 3·68) and loss of smell (OR:2·95, CI: 1·46–5·98) were significantly associated with increased risk of seropositivity (p<0.01). Among the seropositive HCWs, 165 (53·2%) had no symptoms at all while 145 (46·8%) had one or more symptoms. Conclusion: The high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in HCWs warrants for better training and use of protective measure to reduce their risk. Early detection of asymptomatic HCWs may be of special importance because they are likely to be potential threat to others during the active phase of viremia.