SARS-CoV-2 and Its Variants in Thrice-Infected Health Workers: A Case Series from an Italian University Hospital
Healthacare workers usually represent the working group of society – yet they are highly exposed. ORCHESTRA is researching on how they can be better protected. At the same time research on healthcare workers provides scientists with important information on immunity and immune status. “SARS-CoV-2 and Its Variants in Thrice-Infected Health Workers: A Case Series from an Italian University Hospital” is a study that looks at the immune efficacy after a booster doses and whether multiple infections are possible. Carried out by ORCHESTRA partner University of Verona. Please find the publication here: https://doi.org/10.3390/v14112536.
What is the title of your presentation?
SARS-CoV-2 and Its Variants in Thrice-Infected Health Workers: A Case Series from an Italian University Hospital
What is the specific research question?
Are multiple SARS-CoV-2 infections also possible in health workers vaccinated with a booster dose? Are there categories of subjects at greater risk for multiple infections?
What did you look at?
We described a SARS-CoV-2 thrice-infected case series in health workers to evaluate patient and virus variants and lineages and collect information on variables associated with multiple infections.
How many cases from how many cohorts did you evaluate (if this is applicable)?
Twelve thrice infected out of 7368 health workers belonging to Verona Cohort (0.16%).
How long did it take to get results?
A retrospective study was carried out from 24 February 2020 to 10 August 2022.
What are the results/answers?
This case series confirms evidence of multiple reinfections with SARS-CoV-2, even from the same variant, in vaccinated health workers.
Was there anything unexpected/surprising that you found?
Our study confirms that multiple infections can also occur in young, immunocompetent and vaccinated individuals, and comorbidities do not seem to play a key role.
Who (which group of the population) benefits from your research?
The high-risk populations for SARS-CoV-2 infection, such as Health Care Workers, are those who
could benefit more from the results of our study.
What are your recommendations?
These results reinforce the need for continued infection-specific prevention measures in previously infected and reinfected health workers.
Which ORCHESTRA partners are involved?
This study involved the WP5 Cohort of the University Hospital of Verona.
The paper was recently published on Viruses.
Monaco MGL, Spiteri G, Caliskan G, Lotti V, Carta A, Gibellini D, Verlato G, Porru S. SARS-CoV-2 and Its Variants in Thrice-Infected Health Workers: A Case Series from an Italian University Hospital. Viruses. 2022 Nov 16;14(11):2536. doi: 10.3390/v14112536. PMID: 36423145; PMCID: PMC9695215.
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