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eISSN: 2469 - 2786

Bacteriology & Mycology: Open Access

Case Report Volume 8 Issue 3

Does serological evidence of prior infection with SARS-CoV-2 indicate immunity

Eric Sin,1 Adan Bashir,1 Joshua F Potter1

1Department of Graduate Medical Education, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, USA
2Division of infectious diseases, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, USA

Correspondence: Eric Sin, Division of infectious diseases, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, 240 Meeting House Lane, Southampton, NY, 11968, United States

Received: July 15, 2020 | Published: July 30, 2020

Citation: Bashir A, Potter JF, Sin E. Does serological evidence of prior infection with SARS-CoV-2 indicate immunity. J Bacteriol Mycol Open Access. 2020;8(3):66-67. DOI: 10.15406/jbmoa.2020.08.00275

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Abstract

As the novel coronavirus 2019 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has developed worldwide, epidemiologists, infectious disease specialists, and public health officials, among other invested parties, have grappled with the question of to what degree viral re-infection and/or re-activation are issues of concern.1,2 SARS-CoV-2 infected patients tend to develop an antibody response, and there are hopes that this represents immunity on the behalf of serologically positive patients.3,4 Here we present two cases where a patients presented with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection while simultaneously exhibiting positive antibody tests. One of the goals of SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests is to determine who is still at risk of infection.5 However it is still not clear if infection confers immunity.6,7 There has also been question as to the reliability and accuracy of these tests.8 These cases demonstrate that there are still many unknowns with regards to SARS-CoV-2 testing, particularly with regards to immunity and vaccine development.9–11.

Keywords: coronavirus, COVID19, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, pandemics, immunity, immunization

Introduction

As the novel coronavirus 2019 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has developed worldwide, epidemiologists, infectious disease specialists, and public health officials, among other invested parties, have grappled with the question of to what degree viral re-infection and/or re-activation are issues of concern.1,2 SARS-CoV-2 infected patients tend to develop an antibody response, and there are hopes that this represents immunity on the behalf of serologically positive patients.3,4 Here we present two cases where patients developed symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection as evidenced by symptoms consistent with COVID19 requiring hospitalization and confirmed by a positive PCR nasopharyngeal swab despite having a positive antibody test as well.

Patient A

In March 2020, an 83-year-old man from Brooklyn, New York, went to a walk in clinic where he had a SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) done for screening. He was asymptomatic, but his screening test came back positive. This man lived with his wife, who had recently died shortly thereafter due to complications from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Eight weeks later, he presented to the emergency room at our institution with chief complaints of dyspnea and cough. His oxygen saturation was 99% on 3 liters nasal cannula, and his temperature was 97.6F. Chest X-ray was suggestive of multifocal pneumonia consistent with viral illness, and he was started on ceftriaxone and doxycycline. Labs were notable for a procalcitonin of 0.15ng/mL, ferritin of 931.1ng/mL, and a D-Dimer of 706ng/mL. Blood, urine and sputum cultures were drawn and were ultimately negative. SARS-CoV-2 RT PCR (Xpert Xpress) and antibody test (Abbott SARS COV2 COVID19 IGG Antibody) were ordered. Both his PCR and antibody tests came back positive. Apart from coronary artery disease and one cardiac stent, he had no chronic medical conditions. While hospitalized, his respiratory status continued to worsen and he was placed on a non-rebreather mask, followed by high flow nasal cannula. Despite this, his oxygen saturation decreased to the low 50%, and he was placed on mechanical ventilation. He was given convalescent plasma and a five day course of remdesevir. Throughout his hospital stay he required increasing vasopressor support and developed increasing oxygen requirements. He was intubated for 25 days until his children decided to transition him to comfort care. He died shortly after a terminal extubation.

Patient B

In April a 61-years-old man went to the emergency with dyspnea and a cough. His temperature was 99.3F and he was saturating 82% on room air which improved to 95% on four liters nasal cannula. On imaging his chest x-ray showed bilateral hazy opacities. SARS-CoV-2 RT PCR (Xpert Xpress) was positive. A trial course of hydroxychloroquine, thiamine and zine was given for five days. He was managed in the intensive care unit on high flow nasal cannula and after 21 days of hospitalization he was discharged. His comorbid conditions include type 2 diabetes on metformin with a recent hemoglobin A1C of 9.2%. 42 days after his initial presentation to the hospital he returned to his local emergency room with dyspnea. Chest x-ray showed bilateral pleural effusions and a thoracentesis was done where 1,900 milliliters of fluid were drained. SARS-CoV-2 RT PCR (Xpert Xpress) was negative and antibody test (Abbott SARS COV2 COVID19 IGG Antibody) was positive. The patient felt better and left against medical advice. Thirteen days after his second presentation he returned to the emergency room with cough, dyspnea and shortness of breath. The man’s temperature was 97.9F and his oxygen saturation was 96% on room air. Chest x-ray showed bilateral hazy opacities and moderate bilateral plural effusions. A repeat SARS-CoV-2 RT PCR (Xpert Xpress) was positive. On trans-thoracic echocardiogram his ejection fraction was 65% with normal left ventricular systolic function. His respiratory status continued to decline and the patient suffered a cardiac arrest. There was return of circulation after two rounds of chest compressions and epinephrine. He was given convalescent plasma and a five day course of remdesevir. The patient was extubated after six days and a repeat SARS-CoV-2 RT PCR (Xpert Xpress) was negative. After seven more days in the hospital he was discharged home.

Discussion

Patient A was exposed to and tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus as supported by PCR testing in March 2020. Although asymptomatic at the time of his initial testing, he later subsequently developed cough and respiratory distress approximately eight weeks later, prompting him to present to the hospital as detailed above. Here, he tested positive for both SARS-CoV-2 RT PCR and IgG antibody tests. His respiratory status continued to decline in a pattern consistent with active SARS-CoV-2 infection eventually succumbing to his illness. Patient B was PCR positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus and was symptomatic. He recovered during his initial hospitalization and was discharged. 42 days after presentation he was SARS-CoV-2 PCR negative and antibody positive. 13 days later he again developed respiratory symptoms and hospitalized. Subsequent SARS-CoV-2 RT PCR was again positive. Two concerns are raised from these cases: 1) Are the repeat positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests representative of a reinfection or reactivation, and 2) If so, what does that imply about the degree of immunity, if any, that SARS-CoV-2 antibodies confer from reinfection? The median IgG seroconversion time was found to be 14 days with titers that plateau within 6 days after seroconversion.12–14 which has been useful in contact tracing.15 One of the goals of SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests is to determine who is still at risk of infection9. However it is still not clear if infection confers immunity.6,7 There has also been question as to the reliability and accuracy of these tests.8 These cases demonstrate that there are still many unknowns with regards to SARS-CoV-2 testing, particularly with regards to immunity after infection and its implications in vaccine.13-15

Acknowledgements

None.

Conflicts of interest

None.

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