A cross-sectional study conducted in a Southern China hospital examined 262 healthcare workers (HCWs) infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) between April and June 2023. Among these cases, 101 were first-time infections and 161 represented reinfections. The research sought to investigate the prevalence and distinction between first infection and reinfection with the Omicron variant. Study analysis revealed an 11.5% reinfection rate among HCWs with the majority of the infected workforce being female (80.9%). Nursing staff were particularly affected, accounting for 42% of SARS-CoV-2 infections and 47.8% of reinfections.
Furthermore, 257 out of 262 infected HCWs had received SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, primarily inactivated vaccines. Notably, the first infection group which had four vaccine doses was considerably larger than the reinfection group. The study also highlighted differences in prevalence of symptoms between first infection and reinfection, with a significant reduction in fever prevalence among reinfected individuals.
The average interval for SARS-CoV-2 reinfection stood at approximately 150 days. Interestingly, the study found differences in reinfection intervals among professional roles with physicians experiencing the shortest average interval of around 143 days, whilst administrative staff experienced the longest average interval of around 154 days. Despite milder symptoms during reinfections, the high reinfection rate and short intervals between infections underline the need for enhanced monitoring and protective measures for HCWs during the pandemic.
The Omicron variant is currently the most prevalent mutated variant, attributed to its higher transmissibility, decreased vaccine effectiveness, and the reduced effectiveness of public health measures. As SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve and produce new variants, the risk for HCWs substantially increases. Consequently, this study brings awareness to the rate of Omicron reinfection among HCWs and underlines the necessity to sustain research in preventive measures.
Source: https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-024-09221-3