SARS CoV-2 reinfection rate is higher in the Omicron variant than in the Alpha and Delta variants.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many mutations in variants for instance Delta and Alpha are associated with immune evasion and higher infectious potential. There are uncertainties regarding Omicron. In this regard, we aimed to compare the frequency of reinfection of SARS CoV-2 variants in our hospital between April 22, 2021 and January 26, 2022. METHOD: The reinfection rates and demographic characteristics of a total of 27,487 COVID-19 patients infected with different SARS CoV-2 variants were examined. RESULTS: Reinfection was found in 26 (0.46%) of 5554 Alpha, 209 (1.16%) of 17,941 Delta, and 520 (13.0%) of 3992 Omicron variants. A statistically significant difference was observed between the reinfection rates of the variants (p = 0.000). The mean reinfection days were calculated as 204.4 ± 51.1 in the Alpha variant, 291.2 ± 58.2 in the Delta variant, and 361.2 ± 131.6 in the Omicron variant (p = 0.000). It was observed that 16.5% of reinfection cases caught COVID-19 for the second time 3-6 months after the first COVID-19 infection, 36.7% after 6-12 months, and 46.8% after more than 12 months. There was a significant difference between the times in reinfection cases. Most reinfections occurred more than 12 months apart. Among those with a reinfection time > 12 months, 0% had Alpha, 3.4% had Delta, and 96.6% had Omicron variants. CONCLUSION: The highest reinfection rate was observed in the Omicron variant. Reinfection was approximately 30 times more frequent in the Omicron variant than in the Alpha variant and 10 times more frequent in the Delta variant.

Evaluation of bacterial agents isolated from endotracheal aspirate cultures of Covid-19 general intensive care patients and their antibiotic resistance profiles compared to pre-pandemic conditions.

BACKGROUND: Early reports have shown that critically ill patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 have a high prevalence of nosocomial pneumonia, particularly ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). METHOD: In the present study, we determined the bacterial agents isolated from endotracheal aspirate (ETA) cultures of Covid-19 general intensive care patients and evaluated the antibiotic resistance profiles of common bacterial agents compared to the pre-pandemic period. RESULTS: While a total of 119 significant growths with polymicrobial growths were detected in the ETA cultures of 73 (7.5%) of 971 patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit before the pandemic, 87 significant growths were detected in the ETA cultures of 67 (11.1%) of 602 patients hospitalized in the Covid-19 intensive care unit (ICU) after the pandemic. While 61 (83.6%) of patients in the ICU died before the pandemic, 63 (94.0%) of patients in the Covid-19 ICU died after the pandemic. In terms of age, gender, and mortality, there was no significant difference between the two ICUs (p > 0.05). Before the pandemic, the mean length of stay in the ICU was 33.59 ± 32.89 days, and after the pandemic, it was 13.49 ± 8.03 days. This was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). Acinetobacter baumannii (28.5%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (22.6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.9%), Staphylococcus aureus (6.7%), Escherichia coli (7.5%), Candida spp. (5.0%) were the most prevalent causal microorganisms discovered in pre-pandemic ICU ETA samples, whereas A. baumannii (54.0%), K. pneumoniae (10.3%), P. aeruginosa (6.8%), E. faecium (8%), and Candida spp.(13.7%) were the most common causative microorganisms detected in Covid-19 ICU ETA samples. Except for tigecycline, antibiotic resistance rates in A. baumannii strains increased following the pandemic. Only tobramycin showed a significant difference in the increase of resistance among these antibiotics (p = 0.037). The rate of tigecycline resistance, on the other hand, was 17.6% before the pandemic and 2.2% afterward (p < 0.05). After the pandemic, increased resistance of K. pneumoniae strains to colistin, meropenem, ertapenem, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, piperacillin-tazobactam, ciprofloxacin, tigecycline, and cefepime antibiotics was observed. However, these increases were not statistically significant. Except for imipenem, antibiotic resistance rates in P. aeruginosa strains increased following the pandemic. The increase in resistance of ceftazidime and levofloxacin was statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: As a result, the Covid-19 pandemic requires intensive care follow-ups at an earlier age and with a more mortal course. Although the length of stay in the intensive care unit has been shortened, it is observed that this situation is observed due to early mortality. In P. aeruginosa strains, a significant difference was detected in the resistance increase of the ceftazidime and levofloxacin (p < 0.05) and with the exception of tigecycline, antibiotic resistance rates in A. baumannii strains increased following the pandemic. Only tobramycin showed a significant difference in the increase of resistance among these antibiotics (p = 0.037). Secondary infections in patients create more difficult treatment processes due to both Covid-19 and increasing antibiotic resistance today.