Department of Medicine - DIMED, Laboratory Medicine, Padua University, Padua, Italy
Dr. Plebani is professor of clinical biochemistry and clinical molecular biology at the University of Padova school of medicine and chief of the department of laboratory medicine at the University Hospital of Padova in Italy. He is also dean of the university’s medical school and director of its postgraduate course of clinical pathology and clinical biochemistry. He served as president of the International Society of Enzymology for four years, president of the Italian Society of Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Clinical Biology for five years, and president of the Federation of Italian Societies of Laboratory Medicine for three years.
Research Article
A Longitudinal Study of Healthcare Worker?s Surveillance During the Ongoing COVID-19 Epidemics in Italy
Author(s): Francesco Barbaro, Foscarina Della Rocca, Andrea Padoan, Aita A, Vito Cianci, Daniela Basso, Annamaria Cattelan, Claudia Santarossa, Mario Plebani and Luigi Dall’Olmo*
Background: Northern Italy was the first area outside China to be involved in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This observational study depicts SARS-CoV-2 prevalence and serological curves among first-line healthcare workers (HCWs) at Padua University Hospital (PdUH), North East Italy.
Method: 344 first-line HCWs underwent a SARS-CoV-2 RNA nasopharyngeal swab with paired IgM and IgG antibody detection for 4 consecutive weeks and after a follow up of 5 months.
Results: Twenty-seven HCWs (7.84%) had positive serology (Abs) with 12 positive swabs during the study period. Two additional HCWs were positive by swab but without Abs. Fourteen cases (4%) had SARS-CoV-2 infection before the beginning of the study. An HCW with autoimmune disease showed false Ab results. 46% of individuals with Abs reported no symptoms. Fever, nasal c.. View More»