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16 Publications visible to you, out of a total of 16
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

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

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

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

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