ArticleBMC infectious diseases2026
SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence in unvaccinated medical students, Bamako, Mali: a cross-sectional study by hospital exposure level.
Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
15 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundMedical students are a key group within the healthcare system, yet their risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection remains poorly characterized in Mali. Understanding seroprevalence in this population is essential to inform infection control, vaccination strategies, and decisions regarding in-person training.
objectiveTo assess the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among unvaccinated medical students in Bamako, Mali, and to evaluate the association with hospital exposure levels.
methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March 2022 among 300 medical students. Participants were stratified by clinical exposure: first-year (pre-clinical), externs, and interns. Blood samples were collected to detect IgA, IgM, and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 using rapid diagnostic tests, and neutralizing antibodies were assessed in seropositive individuals. Self-reported adherence to barrier measures was recorded. Relative risks (RR) of seropositivity were calculated by exposure level.
resultsOverall seroprevalence was 18%, with a clear gradient according to hospital exposure: 12% in first-year students, 17% in externs, and 25% in interns. Compared with first-year students, interns had had an approximately twofold higher risk of having a positive anti–SARS-CoV-2 serology (IgA, IgM, and IgG) compared with first-year students (IgA: RR = 2.18; 95% CI: 1.13–4.21; p = 0.02; IgM: RR = 2.09; 95% CI: 1.08–4.06; p = 0.02; IgG: RR = 2.00; 95% CI: 1.06–3.77; p = 0.03). Compared with externs, interns had a significantly higher prevalence of IgA antibodies (RR = 2.11; 95% CI: 1.0-4.43; p = 0.05). Among seropositive participants, 97.7% had neutralizing antibodies. High self-reported adherence to barrier measures (≈ 93–98%) did not offset the effect of exposure.
conclusionAnti-SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among Malian medical students is moderate but exposure-dependent. Results highlight the need for reinforced preventive measures, vaccination prioritization, and ongoing serological surveillance.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.