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8 Publications visible to you, out of a total of 8
SARS-CoV-2 antigen rapid detection tests: test performance during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of COVID-19 vaccination.

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 antigen rapid detection tests (RDTs) emerged as point-of-care diagnostics alongside reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) as reference. METHODS: In a prospective … performance assessment from 12 November 2020 to 30 June 2023 at a single centre tertiary care hospital, the sensitivity and specificity (primary endpoints) of RDTs from three manufacturers (NADAL(R), Panbio, MEDsan(R)) were compared to RT-qPCR as reference standard among patients, accompanying persons and staff aged >/= six month in large-scale, clinical screening use. Regression models were used to assess influencing factors on RDT performance (secondary endpoints). FINDINGS: Among 78,798 paired RDT/RT-qPCR results analysed, overall RDT sensitivity was 34.5% (695/2016; 95% CI 32.4-36.6%), specificity 99.6% (76,503/76,782; 95% CI 99.6-99.7%). Over the pandemic course, sensitivity decreased in line with a lower rate of individuals showing typical COVID-19 symptoms. The lasso regression model showed that a higher viral load and typical COVID-19 symptoms were directly significantly correlated with the likelihood of a positive RDT result in SARS-CoV-2 infection, whereas age, sex, vaccination status, and the Omicron VOC were not. INTERPRETATION: The decline in RDT sensitivity throughout the pandemic can primarily be attributed to the reduced prevalence of symptomatic infections among vaccinated individuals and individuals infected with Omicron VOC. RDTs remain valuable for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in symptomatic individuals and offer potential for detecting other respiratory pathogens in the post-pandemic era, underscoring their importance in infection control efforts. FUNDING: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Free State of Bavaria, Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care.

Authors: I. Wagenhauser, K. Knies, T. Pscheidl, M. Eisenmann, S. Flemming, N. Petri, M. McDonogh, A. Scherzad, D. Zeller, A. Gesierich, A. K. Seitz, R. Taurines, R. I. Ernestus, J. Forster, D. Weismann, B. Weissbrich, J. Liese, C. Hartel, O. Kurzai, L. Dolken, A. Gabel, M. Krone

Date Published: 9th Oct 2024

Publication Type: Journal

Heterologous and homologous COVID-19 mRNA vaccination schemes for induction of basic immunity show similar immunogenicity regarding long-term spike-specific cellular immunity in healthcare workers.

Abstract (Expand)

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are recommended to receive at least three spike-antigen exposures to generate basic immunity and to mediate herd protection of vulnerable patients. So far, less attention has … been put on the cellular immune response induced by homologous (three BTN162b2mRNA doses) or heterologous (mRNA-1273 as third dose building on two BTN162bmRNA doses) and the immunological impact of breakthrough infections (BTIs). Therefore, in 356 vaccinated HCWs with or without BTIs the Anti-SARS-CoV-2-Spike-IgG concentrations and avidities and B- and T-cell-reactivity against SARS-CoV-2-Spike-S1- and Nucleocapsid-antigens were assessed with Interferon-gamma-ELISpot and by flow-cytometry. HCWs who had hybrid immunity due to BTIs exhibited strong T-cell-reactivity against the Spike-S1-antigen. A lasso regression model revealed a significant reduction in T-cell immune responses among smokers (p < 0.0001), with less significant impact observed for age, sex, heterologous vaccination, body-mass-index, Anti-Nucleocapsid T-cell reactivity, days since last COVID-19-immunization, and Anti-SARS-CoV-2-Spike-IgG. Although subgroup analysis revealed higher Anti-SARS-CoV-2-Spike-IgG after heterologous vaccination, similar cellular reactivity and percentages of Spike-reactive T- and B-cells were found between homologous and heterologous vaccination. Anti-SARS-CoV-2-Spike-IgG concentrations and avidity significantly correlated with activated T-cells. CD4 + and CD8 + responses correlated with each other. A strong long-term cellular immune response should be considered as baseline for recommendations of booster doses in HCWs with prioritization of smokers. HCWs presented significant T-cellular reactivity towards Spike-S1-antigen with particularly strong responses in hybrid immunized HCWs who had BTIs. HCWs without BTI presented similar percentages of Spike-specific B- and T-cells between homologous or heterologous vaccination indicating similar immunogenicity for both mRNA vaccines, BNT162b2mRNA and mRNA-1273.

Authors: I. Wagenhauser, G. Almanzar, F. B. Forg, A. Stein, I. Eiter, J. Reusch, J. Mees, A. Herzog, U. Vogel, A. Frey, T. T. Lam, A. Schubert-Unkmeir, L. Dolken, O. Kurzai, S. Frantz, A. Gabel, N. Petri, M. Prelog, M. Krone

Date Published: 30th Aug 2024

Publication Type: Journal

The relationship between mental health, sleep quality and the immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccinations.

Abstract (Expand)

Sleep modulates the immune response, and sleep loss can reduce vaccine immunogenicity; vice versa, immune responses impact sleep. We aimed to investigate the influence of mental health and sleep quality … on the immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccinations and, conversely, of COVID-19 vaccinations on sleep quality. The prospective CoVacSer study monitored mental health, sleep quality and Anti-SARS-CoV-2-Spike IgG titres in a cohort of 1082 healthcare workers from 29 September 2021 to 19 December 2022. Questionnaires and blood samples were collected before, 14 days, and 3 months after the third COVID-19 vaccination, as well as in 154 participants before and 14 days after the fourth COVID-19 vaccination. Healthcare workers with psychiatric disorders had slightly lower Anti-SARS-CoV-2-Spike IgG levels before the third COVID-19 vaccination. However, this effect was mediated by higher median age and body mass index in this subgroup. Antibody titres following the third and fourth COVID-19 vaccinations ("booster vaccinations") were not significantly different between subgroups with and without psychiatric disorders. Sleep quality did not affect the humoral immunogenicity of the COVID-19 vaccinations. Moreover, the COVID-19 vaccinations did not impact self-reported sleep quality. Our data suggest that in a working population neither mental health nor sleep quality relevantly impact the immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccinations, and that COVID-19 vaccinations do not cause a sustained deterioration of sleep, suggesting that they are not a precipitating factor for insomnia. The findings from this large-scale real-life cohort study will inform clinical practice regarding the recommendation of COVID-19 booster vaccinations for individuals with mental health and sleep problems.

Authors: I. Wagenhauser, J. Reusch, A. Gabel, J. Mees, H. Nyawale, A. Frey, T. T. Lam, A. Schubert-Unkmeir, L. Dolken, O. Kurzai, S. Frantz, N. Petri, M. Krone, L. B. Krone

Date Published: 14th May 2024

Publication Type: Journal

Determinants of Influenza A infection rate in post-COVID-19 era.

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: I. Wagenhauser, J. Mees, J. Reusch, T. T. Lam, A. Schubert-Unkmeir, L. B. Krone, A. Frey, O. Kurzai, S. Frantz, L. Dolken, J. Liese, A. Gabel, N. Petri, M. Krone

Date Published: 11th Sep 2023

Publication Type: Journal

Inability to work following COVID-19 vaccination-a relevant aspect for future booster vaccinations.

Abstract (Expand)

OBJECTIVES: COVID-19 vaccination is a key prevention strategy to reduce the spread and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infections. However, vaccine-related inability to work among healthcare workers (HCWs) could … overstrain healthcare systems. STUDY DESIGN: The study presented was conducted as part of the prospective CoVacSer cohort study. METHODS: This study examined sick leave and intake of pro re nata medication after the first, second, and third COVID-19 vaccination in HCWs. Data were collected by using an electronic questionnaire. RESULTS: Among 1704 HCWs enrolled, 595 (34.9%) HCWs were on sick leave following at least one COVID-19 vaccination, leading to a total number of 1550 sick days. Both the absolute sick days and the rate of HCWs on sick leave significantly increased with each subsequent vaccination. Comparing BNT162b2mRNA and mRNA-1273, the difference in sick leave was not significant after the second dose, but mRNA-1273 induced a significantly longer and more frequent sick leave after the third. CONCLUSION: In the light of further COVID-19 infection waves and booster vaccinations, there is a risk of additional staff shortages due to postvaccination inability to work, which could negatively impact the already strained healthcare system and jeopardise patient care. These findings will aid further vaccination campaigns to minimise the impact of staff absences on the healthcare system.

Authors: J. Reusch, I. Wagenhauser, A. Gabel, A. Hohn, T. T. Lam, L. B. Krone, A. Frey, A. Schubert-Unkmeir, L. Dolken, S. Frantz, O. Kurzai, U. Vogel, M. Krone, N. Petri

Date Published: 25th Aug 2023

Publication Type: Journal

Bivalent BNT162b2 mRNA original/omicron BA.4-5 booster vaccination: adverse reactions and inability to work compared with the monovalent COVID-19 booster.

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: I. Wagenhauser, J. Reusch, A. Gabel, L. B. Krone, O. Kurzai, N. Petri, M. Krone

Date Published: 4th Apr 2023

Publication Type: Journal

Immunogenicity and safety of coadministration of COVID-19 and influenza vaccination.

Abstract (Expand)

Coadministration of seasonal quadrivalent influenza and COVID-19 booster vaccination is safe and does not increase vaccine-related side-effects, but may limit anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody formation … https://bit.ly/3uKFUie

Authors: I. Wagenhauser, J. Reusch, A. Gabel, A. Hohn, T. T. Lam, G. Almanzar, M. Prelog, L. B. Krone, A. Frey, A. Schubert-Unkmeir, L. Dolken, S. Frantz, O. Kurzai, U. Vogel, N. Petri, M. Krone

Date Published: 23rd Dec 2022

Publication Type: Journal

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