RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among obstetric patients in Ottawa, Canada: a descriptive study
JF CMAJ Open
JO CMAJ
FD Canadian Medical Association
SP E643
OP E651
DO 10.9778/cmajo.20210228
VO 10
IS 3
A1 Romina Fakhraei
A1 Erica Erwin
A1 Kameela M. Alibhai
A1 Malia S.Q. Murphy
A1 Alysha L.J. Dingwall-Harvey
A1 Ruth Rennicks White
A1 Sheryll Dimanlig-Cruz
A1 Rosemary LaRose
A1 Kimberly Grattan
A1 Jian-Jun Jia
A1 George Liu
A1 Corey Arnold
A1 Yannick Galipeau
A1 Khatereh Shir-Mohammadi
A1 Gillian D. Alton
A1 Jessica Dy
A1 Mark C. Walker
A1 Deshayne B. Fell
A1 Marc-André Langlois
A1 Darine El-Chaâr
YR 2022
UL http://www.cmajopen.ca/content/10/3/E643.abstract
AB Background: There is limited information on the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in obstetric settings in Canada, beyond the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (February to June 2020). We sought to describe the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant people admitted to triage units at a tertiary care hospital in Ottawa, Canada.Methods: We conducted a descriptive study of pregnant people admitted to obstetric triage assessment units at The Ottawa Hospital between Oct. 19 and Nov. 27, 2020 (second local wave of the COVID-19 pandemic). Participants underwent SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (via naso- or oropharyngeal swabs) and serology testing upon admission. We excluded individuals younger than 18 years, those who did not speak English or French, those who enrolled in conflicting studies, those admitted for pregnancy termination and those triaged between 11:31 pm and 7:29 am. Swab and serology samples were analyzed using digital droplet PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. We defined SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity as a positive result for immunoglobulin (Ig) G, either alone or in combination with IgM or IgA.Results: Of the 632 eligible patients, 363 (57.4%) consented to participation and 362 collectively provided 284 swab and 352 blood samples eligible for analysis. Common reasons for declining participation included feeling overwhelmed or anxious, being worried about repercussions of testing, pain or discomfort with testing or disinterest in research. Participants were mostly multiparous (53.9%) and in their third trimester upon admission (88.4%). In all, 18 (4.9%) participants had evidence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure; 2 (0.7%) of 284 were positive for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR and 16 (4.5%) of 352 were positive for IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2.Interpretation: During the second local wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of active SARS-CoV-2 infection among obstetric patients in Ottawa was 0.7% and seroprevalence was 4.5%. Our low participation rate highlights the need for improvements in patient education and public health messaging on the benefits of SARS-CoV-2 testing programs.