Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:Since the occurrence of coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19), the global community has witnessed its exponential spread with devastating outcomes within the general population and specifically within hemodialysis patients. OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:Compare the state of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 among hemodialysis patients and staff. DESIGN/METHODS:Cross-sectional study with a prospective follow-up period. SETTING/METHODS:Hemodialysis centers in Madinah region. PATIENTS AND METHODS/METHODS:We prospectively tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in dialysis patients using dialysis centers staff as controls. The participants were tested on four occasions when feasible for the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We also analyzed factors that might be associated with seropositivity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES/METHODS:SARS-CoV-2 positivity using immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels SAMPLE SIZE: 830 participants, 677 patients and 153 dialysis centers staff as controls. RESULTS:<.0001). Surprisingly, positivity was also center-dependent. In a multivariable logistic regression, a history of infection and related symptoms contributed significantly to developing immunity. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:The high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody among hemodialysis patients and previously asymptomatic staff suggested past asymptomatic infection. Some centers showed more immunity effects than others. LIMITATIONS/CONCLUSIONS:Unable to collect four samples for each participant; limited to one urban center. CONFLICT OF INTEREST/BACKGROUND:None.