Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection in a Healthy Healthcare Worker in Italy Confirmed by Whole-Genome Sequencing

Background With the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic, some COVID-19 patients have become reinfected with the virus. Viral gene sequencing has found that some of these patients were reinfected by the different and others by same strains. This has raised concerns about the effectiveness of immunity after infection and the reliability of vaccines. To this end, we conducted a systematic review to assess the characteristics of patients with reinfection and possible causes. Methods A systematic search was conducted across eight databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang, VIP and SinoMed from December 1, 2019 to September 1, 2021. The quality of included studies were assessed using JBI critical appraisal tools and Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Results This study included 50 studies from 20 countries. There were 118 cases of reinfection. Twenty-five patients were reported to have at least one complication. The shortest duration between the first infection and reinfection was 19 days and the longest was 293 days. During the first infection and reinfection, cough (51.6% and 43.9%) and fever (50% and 30.3%) were the most common symptoms respectively. Nine patients recovered, seven patients died, and five patients were hospitalized, but 97 patients’ prognosis were unknown. B.1 is the most common variant strain at the first infection. B.1.1.7, B.1.128 and B.1.351 were the most common variant strains at reinfection. Thirty-three patients were infected by different strains and 9 patients were reported as being infected with the same strain. Conclusions Our research shows that it is possible for rehabilitated patients to be reinfected by SARS-COV-2. To date, the causes and risk factors of COVID-19 reinfection are not fully understood. For patients with reinfection, the diagnosis and management should be consistent with the treatment of the first infection. The public, including rehabilitated patients, should be fully vaccinated, wear masks in public places, and pay attention to maintaining social distance to avoid reinfection with the virus.

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“…The shortest time from first infection to reinfection was 19 days [59] and the longest was 293 days [71].…”

Section: Time From First To Second Clinical Symptommentioning

confidence: 98%

Reinfection in patients with COVID-19: a systematic review

Ren

Zhou

Guo

et al. 2022

glob health res policy

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“…We restricted our search to publications in English. As of June 5, 2021 only six publications confirmed the hypothesis of reinfection (Adrielle Dos Santos et al 2021;Gupta et al 2020;Selhorst et al 2020;Loconsole et al 2021;Brehm et al 2021) through whole-genome sequencing, however not all have shown distinct variants for both infection episodes (Table S1).…”

Section: Evidence Before This Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 symptomatic reinfection in four healthcare professionals from the same hospital despite the presence of antibodies

Gargouri

Souissi

Abid

et al. 2022

International Journal of Infectious Diseases

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Objectives Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of reinfection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been reported, raising additional public health concerns. SARS-CoV-2 reinfection was assessed in healthcare workers in Tunisia, as they are at the greatest exposure to infection by different variants. Methods We conducted whole-genome sequencing of the viral RNA from clinical specimens at the initial infection and suspected second infection from four healthcare workers, working at the Habib Bourguiba University Hospital (Sfax, Tunisia), who were retested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR after recovery from a first infection. A total of 8 viral RNAs from the patients’ respiratory specimens were obtained, which allowed us to characterize the differences between viral genomes from initial infection and positive retest. The serology status for total Ig, IgG, and IgM against SARS-CoV-2 was also determined and followed after the first infection. Results We confirmed by whole-genome sequencing of the viral samples that all four cases experienced a reinfection event. The interval between the two infection events ranged from 45 to 141 days and symptoms were milder in the second infection for two patients and more severe for the two remaining cases. Reinfection occurred for all four cases, despite the presence of antibodies for three of them. Conclusion This study adds to the rapidly growing evidence of COVID-19 reinfection, where viral sequences were used to confirm infection by distinct isolates of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers. These findings suggest that individuals, who are exposed to different SARS-CoV-2 variants, might not acquire sufficiently protective immunity through natural infection and emphasis the necessity of their vaccination and the regular follow-up of their immune status both in quantitative and qualitative terms.

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“…However, since only one patient in 25 was infected, wearing a surgical mask could be also considered useful. Compared with the general population, HCWs are at higher risk of repeated exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospital settings and, despite the use of personal protective equipment such as ffp2 masks, face shields, double gloves, and gowns, reinfection and nosocomial outbreaks caused by wild-type and Alpha strains of SARS-CoV-2 have occurred [20,21]. Because Omicron VOC is three-to sixfold more infectious than previous variants [33], measures of infection control in non-COVID-19 wards require strengthening.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For each positive sample, the cycle threshold (Ct) values were recorded for all three genes as an indirect index of viral load and a valuable proxy for infectious virus [19,20]. Additionally, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed using the Ion Torrent platform (ThermoFisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA), as previously described [21]. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using the Nextclade sequence analysis webapp (https://clades.nextstrain.org/, accessed on 14 February 2021).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autochthonous Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in Booster-Vaccinated (3 Doses) Healthcare Workers in Southern Italy: Just the Tip of the Iceberg?

et al. 2022

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The Omicron variant of concern (VOC), first detected in Italy at the end of November 2021, has since spread rapidly, despite high vaccine coverage in the Italian population, especially in healthcare workers (HCWs). This study describes an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection in 15 booster-vaccinated HCWs. On 16 December 2021, two HCWs working in the same ward were infected with SARS-CoV-2. The Omicron VOC was suspected due to S gene target failure on molecular testing. Further investigation revealed that 15 (65%) of 23 HCWs attending a social gathering on 13 December were infected with Omicron, as shown by whole-genome sequencing, with a phylogenetic tree suggesting a common source of exposure. Five of these HCWs experienced mild symptoms. A patient with multiple chronic conditions hospitalized in the same ward was also infected by one of the HCWs involved in the outbreak. Despite being booster vaccinated, this patient required ICU treatment. Ten subjects achieved negativity in 10–19 days. The outbreak in booster-vaccinated subjects confirms the high transmissibility and immune evasion of the Omicron VOC. More stringent non-pharmaceutical interventions, administration of booster doses, and genomic surveillance are crucial long-term strategies to mitigate the consequences of the spread of the Omicron VOC.

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Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection in a Healthy Healthcare Worker in Italy Confirmed by Whole-Genome Sequencing

Cited by 8 publications

References 25 publications

Reinfection in patients with COVID-19: a systematic review

Reinfection in patients with COVID-19: a systematic review

Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 symptomatic reinfection in four healthcare professionals from the same hospital despite the presence of antibodies

Autochthonous Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in Booster-Vaccinated (3 Doses) Healthcare Workers in Southern Italy: Just the Tip of the Iceberg?

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