COVID-19 REINFECTION: DOES IT MATTER?

Year 2023, Volume: 6 Issue: 3, 263 - 269, 24.10.2023

Emine Füsun Karaşahin , Ömer Karaşahin , Mehtap Hülya Aslan

https://doi.org/10.26650/JARHS2023-1252949

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to present the descriptive findings of 65 patients evaluated as clinical COVID-19 reinfection.
Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of COVID-19 reinfection cases recorded by the provincial health directorate. The time between infections (days), whether the patient was hospitalized, symptoms at the time of both positive tests, presence of risky contact, occupation, lung imaging results, laboratory findings, and RT-PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values were recorded. Results were expressed as mean (standard deviation [SD]) or median (interquartile range [IQR]), and categorical variables were expressed as frequency (percentage).
Results: The mean time between infections was 124.9 (SD 39.7) days and the median was 117 (IQR 96-143.5) days. Reinfection occurred after 45 to 89 days in 10 patients (15.4%) and after 90 days or more in 55 patients. The shortest time to reinfection was 60 days and the longest time was 272 days. The median Ct value was 24.5 (IQR 22-26.5) among patients reinfected after 45 to 89 days and 28 (IQR 25-32) among those reinfected after at least 90 days.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the frequency of COVID-19 reinfection is higher than predicted. The complex algorithms recommended by international health institutions make it difficult to detect these cases. However, rapid identification of these patients is essential to prevent new infections and control the pandemic.

Keywords

COVID-19, pandemics, reinfection

Project Number

Yok

COVID-19 RE-ENFEKSİYONU: ÖNEMLİ Mİ?

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmada amacımız klinik re-enfeksiyon olarak tanımlanan 65 hastanın tanımlayıcı bulgularını sunmaktır.
Gereç-Yöntem: İl sağlık müdürlüğü tarafından kaydı tutulan re-enfeksiyon vakalarının retrospektif dosya taraması yapılmıştır. İki enfeksiyon arasında geçen süre (gün), hastane yatışı olup olmadığı, vakaların her bir pozitif test sonucu dönemindeki şikayetleri, riskli temas durumları, sağlık çalışanı olup olmadıkları, varsa akciğer görüntülemesi sonuçları, laboratuvar bulguları ve RT-PCR Ct değerleri kaydedilmiştir. Bulgular ortalama±standart sapma, ortanca (çeyrekler arası değer - IQR), kategorik değişkenler frekans (yüzde) olarak sunulmuştur.
Bulgular: İki enfeksiyon arasında geçen ortalama süre 124,9±39,7 gün ve ortanca ise 117 (IQR 96 – 143,5) gündü. 10 (15,4%) kişide 45-89 gün, 55 kişide 90 gün veya daha uzun süre sonra re-enfeksiyon görüldü. Tespit edilen en kısa süre 60 gün ve en uzun süre ise 272 gündü. 45-89 gün arası sürede re-enfekte olanların ortanca Ct değeri 24,5 (22-26,5), ≥90 gün sonra re-enfekte olanların ortanca Ct değeri 28 (25-32) idi.
Sonuç: Bu çalışma ile COVID-19 re-enfeksiyon sıklığının tahmin edildiğinden daha yüksek olduğu gösterilmiştir. Uluslararası sağlık kuruluşları tarafından önerilen kompleks algoritmalar bu vakaların tespiti zorlaştırmaktadır. Ancak pandemi mücadelesi sırasında elzem olan husus vakaları çok hızlı tespit ederek yeni bulaşların olmasını önlemektir.

Keywords

COVID-19, pandemi, re-enfeksiyon

Supporting Institution

Yok

Project Number

Yok

Thanks

Yok

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