SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Infection Linked to Increased Risk for Reinfection
THURSDAY, Aug. 24, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) omicron infection is associated with an increased risk for reinfection among residents of long-term care and retirement homes, according to a study published online Aug. 21 in eClinicalMedicine.
Jessica A. Breznik, Ph.D., from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and colleagues examined the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection in 750 vaccinated residents of long-term care and retirement homes in an observational study within July to September 2022. In a subset of 318 residents, serum anti-spike and anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgA antibodies, microneutralization titers, and spike-specific T-cell memory responses were examined within the preceding three months.
The researchers found that during the observation period, 17.7 percent of the 750 participants had a polymerase chain reaction-confirmed omicron infection. There was an association for increased infection risk with prior omicron infection (at nine to 29 days: 47.67, which was not attributed to days since fourth vaccination or residence outbreaks). After their initial omicron infection, reinfected participants had lower serum neutralizing antibodies to ancestral and omicron BA.1 SARS-CoV-2 and lower anti-RBD IgG and IgA antibodies.
"Overall, our observations caution that immunological features of hybrid immunity are not the same in all older adults, and hybrid immunity should not be considered a panacea against future SARS-CoV-2 infection, whether from cross-subvariant Omicron infections, or future variants of concern," the authors write.
Two authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Related Posts
Links Between Parental Exposure to Pesticides, Childhood Cancer Explored
TUESDAY, Aug. 9, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Maternal or paternal exposure to...
Protect Your Kids in Blistering Summer Heat
THURSDAY, June 29, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Enjoy that summer sun, but keep some...
Factors ID’d for Failure of Nonoperative Treatment of Pediatric Appendicitis
WEDNESDAY, May 4, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- For pediatric patients receiving...
Baricitinib Reduces Mortality in Critically Ill Adults With COVID-19
FRIDAY, Feb. 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- For critically ill hospitalized...