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8 Publications visible to you, out of a total of 8
Vaccination status of patients with primary immunodeficiencies in Germany-a multicentric epidemiologic analysis.

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND: Vaccinations represent an easily accessible, safe, and important method for preventing infections. Patients with primary immunodeficiencies (PID) are more susceptible to infections and … should receive an extended spectrum of immunizations in many countries. METHODS: Between January 2019 and May 2020, vaccination certificates of 70 patients with PID from the regions of Wurzburg and Hanover in Germany were evaluated. The patients were additionally surveyed regarding their attitude towards vaccinations and the communication with their physicians. Medical records were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 70 patients, 54 (77%) suffered from common variable immunodeficiency, 30 (43%) were diagnosed with accompanying autoimmunity, 62 (89%) had an increased susceptibility to infections, and 56 (80%) were on immunoglobulin substitution therapy. Seven patients (10%) had neither a vaccination certificate nor were they able to recollect of their last vaccination. Only 55 (79%) and 43 (61%) patients stated that their rheumatologist or immunologist had recommended an influenza and a pneumococcal vaccination, respectively. When asked about their overall trust in vaccinations on a scale of 0 to 10 (0 = very low, 10 = very high), the mean value was 7.8. The most common vaccination was against tetanus in 63 (90%) patients, 49 (70%) had received vaccination against pneumococci, and 39 (56%) had received an influenza vaccination. Interestingly, 26 patients (37%) were vaccinated against measles, even though this is contraindicated in most PID patients. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that vaccination rates in this at-risk population are insufficient. Healthcare providers should emphasize vaccinations routinely when caring for these patients.

Authors: E. C. Schwaneck, A. S. Harasim, H. P. Tony, M. Gawlik, T. Witte, S. Joos, M. Gernert, M. Schmalzing, H. Morbach, M. Frohlich, M. Krone

Date Published: 22nd Aug 2024

Publication Type: Journal

Establishing semi-automated infection surveillance in obstetrics and gynaecology

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: H. Hill, I. Wagenhäuser, P. Schuller, J. Diessner, M. Eisenmann, S. Kampmeier, U. Vogel, A. Wöckel, M. Krone

Date Published: 1st Apr 2024

Publication Type: Journal

Ralstonia pickettii bloodstream infections with potential genomic link to internationally distributed contaminated saline solution, Germany, October 2023.

Abstract (Expand)

Ralstonia pickettii is a Gram-negative rod which may cause invasive infections when they contaminate liquid medical products. After R. pickettii was detected in blood cultures and a stem cell product … from three patients in a tertiary care hospital in Germany, whole genome sequencing of these three isolates and two water isolates from the environment was performed. Core genome multilocus sequence typing analysis showed that the three patient isolates were closely related and there was a large distance to the environmental isolates. In a genomic comparison, the patients' isolates were distantly related to an R. pickettii strain from a cluster in Australia suspected to be caused by contaminated saline produced in India, while all liquid medical products with a link to all patients were produced in Europe or the United States. Our data point towards an ongoing risk by an unknown common source that could be traced back to medical products contaminated with R. pickettii and potentially distributed worldwide. Investigating invasive R. pickettii infections, identifying and testing medical products administered to the patients and timely whole genome sequencing may help identify the exact source of this potentially global outbreak.

Authors: M. Krone, V. Rauschenberger, V. Blaschke, H. Claus, O. Kurzai, S. Kampmeier

Date Published: 22nd Jan 2024

Publication Type: Journal

The Sensitivity of Rapid Tests for SARS-CoV-2 Antigen.

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: K. Knies, I. Wagenhauser, D. Hofmann, V. Rauschenberger, M. Eisenmann, J. Reusch, S. Flemming, O. Andres, N. Petri, M. S. Topp, M. Papsdorf, M. McDonogh, R. Verma-Fuhring, A. Scherzad, D. Zeller, H. Bohm, A. Gesierich, A. K. Seitz, M. Kiderlen, M. Gawlik, R. Taurines, T. Wurmb, R. I. Ernestus, J. Forster, D. Weismann, B. Weissbrich, J. Liese, U. Vogel, O. Kurzai, L. Dolken, A. Gabel, M. Krone

Date Published: 10th Nov 2023

Publication Type: Journal

Clinical accuracy of SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen testing in screening children and adolescents.

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: M. Krone, I. Wagenhauser, K. Knies, D. Hofmann, G. Engels, R. Taurines, M. McDonogh, S. Flemming, T. Meyer, H. Bohm, A. Scherzad, M. Eisenmann, V. Rauschenberger, A. Gabel, N. Petri, J. Reusch, J. Forster, B. Weissbrich, L. Dolken, O. Kurzai, U. Vogel, C. Hartel, J. Liese, O. Andres

Date Published: 25th Dec 2022

Publication Type: Journal

Virus variant-specific clinical performance of SARS coronavirus two rapid antigen tests in point-of-care use, from November 2020 to January 2022.

Abstract (Expand)

OBJECTIVES: Antigen rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are quick, widely available, and inexpensive. Consequently, RDTs have been established as an alternative and … additional diagnostic strategy to quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). However, reliable clinical and large-scale performance data specific to a SARS-CoV-2 virus variant of concern (VOC) are limited, especially for the Omicron VOC. The aim of this study was to compare RDT performance among different VOCs. METHODS: This single-centre prospective performance assessment compared RDTs from three manufacturers (NADAL, Panbio, MEDsan) with RT-qPCR including deduced standardized viral load from oropharyngeal swabs for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in a clinical point-of-care setting from November 2020 to January 2022. RESULTS: Among 35 479 RDT/RT-qPCR tandems taken from 26 940 individuals, 164 of the 426 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples tested true positive with an RDT corresponding to an RDT sensitivity of 38.50% (95% CI, 34.00-43.20%), with an overall specificity of 99.67% (95% CI, 99.60-99.72%). RDT sensitivity depended on viral load, with decreasing sensitivity accompanied by descending viral load. VOC-dependent sensitivity assessment showed a sensitivity of 42.86% (95% CI, 32.82-53.52%) for the wild-type SARS-CoV-2, 43.42% (95% CI, 32.86-54.61%) for the Alpha VOC, 37.67% (95% CI, 30.22-45.75%) for the Delta VOC, and 33.67% (95% CI, 25.09-43.49%) for the Omicron VOC. Sensitivity in samples with high viral loads of >/=10(6) SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies per mL was significantly lower in the Omicron VOC (50.00%; 95% CI, 36.12-63.88%) than in the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 (79.31%; 95% CI, 61.61-90.15%; p 0.015). DISCUSSION: RDT sensitivity for detection of the Omicron VOC is reduced in individuals infected with a high viral load, which curtails the effectiveness of RDTs. This aspect furthert: limits the use of RDTs, although RDTs are still an irreplaceable diagnostic tool for rapid, economic point-of-care and extensive SARS-CoV-2 screening.

Authors: I. Wagenhauser, K. Knies, D. Hofmann, V. Rauschenberger, M. Eisenmann, J. Reusch, A. Gabel, S. Flemming, O. Andres, N. Petri, M. S. Topp, M. Papsdorf, M. McDonogh, R. Verma-Fuhring, A. Scherzad, D. Zeller, H. Bohm, A. Gesierich, A. K. Seitz, M. Kiderlen, M. Gawlik, R. Taurines, T. Wurmb, R. I. Ernestus, J. Forster, D. Weismann, B. Weissbrich, L. Dolken, J. Liese, L. Kaderali, O. Kurzai, U. Vogel, M. Krone

Date Published: 27th Aug 2022

Publication Type: Journal

Clinical performance evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen testing in point of care usage in comparison to RT-qPCR.

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND: Antigen rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) for SARS-CoV-2 are fast, broadly available, and inexpensive. Despite this, reliable clinical performance data from large field studies is sparse. METHODS: … In a prospective performance evaluation study, RDT from three manufacturers (NADAL(R), Panbio, MEDsan(R), conducted on different samples) were compared to quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in 5 068 oropharyngeal swabs for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in a hospital setting. Viral load was derived from standardised RT-qPCR Cycle threshold (C(t)) values. The data collection period ranged from November 12, 2020 to February 28, 2021. FINDINGS: The sensitivity of RDT compared to RT-qPCR was 42.57% (95% CI 33.38%-52.31%). The specificity was 99.68% (95% CI 99.48%-99.80%). Sensitivity declined with decreasing viral load from 100% in samples with a deduced viral load of >/=10(8) SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies per ml to 8.82% in samples with a viral load lower than 10(4) SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies per ml. No significant differences in sensitivity or specificity could be observed between samples with and without spike protein variant B.1.1.7. The NPV in the study cohort was 98.84%; the PPV in persons with typical COVID-19 symptoms was 97.37%, and 28.57% in persons without or with atypical symptoms. INTERPRETATION: RDT are a reliable method to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 infection in persons with high viral load. RDT are a valuable addition to RT-qPCR testing, as they reliably detect infectious persons with high viral loads before RT-qPCR results are available. FUNDING: German Federal Ministry for Education and Science (BMBF), Free State of Bavaria.

Authors: I. Wagenhauser, K. Knies, V. Rauschenberger, M. Eisenmann, M. McDonogh, N. Petri, O. Andres, S. Flemming, M. Gawlik, M. Papsdorf, R. Taurines, H. Bohm, J. Forster, D. Weismann, B. Weissbrich, L. Dolken, J. Liese, O. Kurzai, U. Vogel, M. Krone

Date Published: 30th Jun 2021

Publication Type: Journal

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