Healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19 patients present an inflammatory status and Th2/Th17/Th22 immune profile: findings from before vaccine application in Brazil

• Published in: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências Vol. 95; no. suppl 1; p. e20220502
• Main Authors: Aquino, Rodrigo Cesar A DE, Barros, Bárbara Rafaela S, Silva, Guilherme Antonio S, Sousa, Georon F DE, Souza, Edson B DE, Silva, Dyego R C, Nascimento, Arione V DO, Sá, Igor W A DE, Lima, Elker L S DE, Silva, Bárbara O, Lima, Luísa P O DE, Vieira, Amanda M, Barbosa Neto, Adauto G, Marcos, Bianca F São, Silva, Anna Jéssica D, Oliveira, Talita Helena Araújo DE, Carvalho, Bruno M, Muniz, Maria Tereza C, Freitas, Antonio Carlos DE, Campelo Júnior, Evônio B, Melo, Cristiane M L DE
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Academia Brasileira de Ciências 01.01.2023
• Subjects: Brazil; COVID-19; COVID-19 - prevention & control; Female; Health Personnel; Healthcare workers; Humans; Inflammation; Male; Middle Aged; MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES; Pandemics; SARS-CoV-2; Th2/Th17/Th22; Vaccines; Brazil; COVID-19; Th2/Th17/Th22; SARS-CoV-2; Healthcare workers; Inflammation
• ISSN: 0001-3765; 1678-2690; 1678-2690
• DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202320220502

Healthcare workers present an increased risk of contagion for the SARS-CoV-2 virus due to their labor exposure. Here, we describe the clinical, laboratory, and immunological characteristics of healthcare workers, before vaccine application, exposed to SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. We collected sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory information from 50 professionals who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic at the Clinical Hospital of the Northwest in Brazil. The results showed that most workers are women, over 50 years old, and worked as nursing technicians. Approximately 56% of workers were positive for a previous infection by RT-PCR and/or anti-SARS-CoV-2-immunoglobulin tests. Increased levels of hematocrit, neutrophils, NK lymphocytes, and fibrinogen, were found in positive healthcare workers, suggesting a light inflammatory status. The immunological findings showed an increase in IL-17 production and a Th2/Th17/Th22 profile followed by high serology for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG. Those data reveal the importance of studies with healthcare workers to investigate if the continuous exposition to the virus may result in chronic activation of the immune system and/or pulmonary inflammation in this target group.