Longitudinal effects of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection on imprinting of neutralizing antibody responses.

Background: The impact of the infecting SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (VOC) and the vaccination status was determined on the magnitude, breadth, and durability of the neutralizing antibody (nAb) profile in a longitudinal multicentre cohort study.

Methods: 173 vaccinated and 56 non-vaccinated individuals were enrolled after SARS-CoV-2 Alpha, Delta, or Omicron infection and visited four times within 6 months and nAbs were measured for D614G, Alpha, Delta, BA.1, BA.

Negative impact of face masks in patients with interstitial lung disease: A prospective study.

Introduction: Face masks increase airway resistance, data on the actual extent of this effect are scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of different mask types on clinical parameters during moderate exercise in healthy non-smokers, active smokers and patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) without the need of oxygen therapy.

Methods: In a prospective observational pilot study participants performed a six-minute walk test without mask, with a surgical mask, a well-fitted FFP2 mask and with a valved FFP3 mask.

Impact of Selective Reporting of Antibiotic Susceptibility Test Results on Antibiotic Use in Patients with Bloodstream Infection with .

Introduction: Invasive pneumococcal disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in infectious diseases. Selective reporting of antibiotic susceptibility test results might lead to a tailored antibiotic therapy and could therefore be an important antibiotic stewardship program intervention. The aim of this study was to analyse whether a switch to selective reporting of antibiotic test results leads to a more focused antibiotic therapy in patients with a bloodstream infection with .

Short report: impact of selective reporting of antibiotic susceptibility testing on antibiotic use in patients with bloodstream infection with Enterococcus faecalis.

Introduction: Bloodstream infections with Enterococcus faecalis are associated with relevant morbidity and mortality. Targeted antimicrobial therapy is essential. The choice of an adequate treatment may be challenging when susceptibility testing offers different options.

Association of epidemiological and clinical features with PCR cycle threshold values of SARS-CoV-2 infection: a cross-sectional study.

The cycle threshold (Ct) in quantitative real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) is inversely correlated to the amount of viral nucleic acid or viral load and can be regarded as an indicator of infectivity. We examined the association of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive cases with PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values at the time of diagnosis. SARS-CoV-2 cases reported between 12 October 2020 and 24 January 2021 in Regensburg were analyzed employing bivariate and multivariable methods.

Association between Adverse Reactions and Humoral Immune Response No Longer Detectable after BNT162b2 Booster Vaccination.

In a previous study, we described a highly significant association between reactogenicity and SARS-CoV-2 RBD IgG titers and wild-type neutralization capacity in males after basic vaccination with BNT162b2. The objective of this study was to assess whether this benefit was long lasting and also evident after BNT162b2 booster vaccination. Reactogenicity was classified into three groups: no or minor injection site symptoms, moderate (not further classified) and severe adverse reactions (defined as any symptom(s) resulting in sick leave).

[The value of COVID-19 vaccination in the context of Long-COVID].

There are currently no strategies available on how to deal with Long-COVID (COVID "coronavirus disease"). COVID-19 vaccination could be both a preemptive and a therapeutic option for the future. The evaluation of the available studies is complicated by varying definitions.

Health Care Workers' Sick Leave due to COVID-19 Vaccination in Context With SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Quarantine-A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background: Reactogenicity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines can result in inability to work. The object of this study was to evaluate health care workers' sick leave after COVID-19 vaccination and to compare it with sick leave due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and quarantine leave.

Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional survey was conducted at Regensburg University Medical Center and 10 teaching hospitals in South-East Germany from July 28 to October 15, 2021.

Low Adherence to Pneumococcal Vaccination in Lung Cancer Patients in a Tertiary Care University Hospital in Southern Germany.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the adherence to vaccinations, especially pneumococcal vaccinations, in lung cancer patients.

Methods: the study was performed at the University Hospital Regensburg, Germany. All patients with a regular appointment scheduled between 1 December 2020 and 29 April 2021 and who provided informed consent were included.

Increased neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant after heterologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/BNT162b2 versus homologous BNT162b2 vaccination.

Heterologous SARS-CoV-2 vaccine approaches with a second mRNA-based vaccine have been favored in the recommendations of many countries over homologous vector-based ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination after reports of thromboembolic events and lower efficacy of this regimen. In the middle of 2021, the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant of concern (VoC) has become predominant in many countries worldwide. Data addressing the neutralization capacity of a heterologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/mRNA-based vaccination approach against the Delta VoC in comparison to the widely used homologous mRNA-based vaccine regimen are limited.

Association between Reactogenicity and Immunogenicity after Vaccination with BNT162b2.

It is not clear whether there is an association between adverse reactions and immune response after vaccination. Seven hundred and thirty-five vaccinees from our University Medical Center vaccination clinic provided information about sex, age and adverse reactions after first and second vaccination with BNT162b2. Adverse reactions were categorized into three groups: no or minor on the injection side, moderate (not further classified) and severe-defined as any symptom(s) resulting in sick leave.

Adherence to STIKO recommendations in patients with pulmonary disease in southeast Germany.

Background: Vaccinations are among the most effective preventative healthcare measures. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the adherence of adults with pre-existing pulmonary conditions to the national vaccination schedule and to identify reasons for poor adherence.

Methods: All patients with an appointment at Donaustauf hospital between October 2019 and April 2020 were asked to bring their vaccination certificates for evaluation and to compete a questionnaire.

Brief report: attitudes towards Covid-19 vaccination among hospital employees in a tertiary care university hospital in Germany in December 2020.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination is essential to fight the pandemic. Health care workers (HCWs) are prioritized to get vaccinated, yet uptake of recommended vaccinations is known to be low in this group. In a tertiary care university hospital with a high number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care, 59.

Comparison of Throat Washings, Nasopharyngeal Swabs and Oropharyngeal Swabs for Detection of SARS-CoV-2.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA is detected by reverse-transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) from respiratory specimens. This study compares throat washings (TW), nasopharyngeal swabs (NS) and oropharyngeal swabs (OS). A total of 102 samples from 34 adult patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were analysed by RT-qPCR with absolute quantification.