SARS-CoV-2 Reinfections in Health-Care Workers, 1 March 2020–31 January 2023
Authors: Cegolon Luca , Magnano Greta , Negro Corrado , Larese Filon Francesca 
Published: July 2023

Objective: To study SARS-CoV-2 reinfections in health-care workers (HCWs) of the University Health Agency Giuliano-Isontina (ASUGI), covering the provinces of Trieste and Gorizia (northeastern Italy) routinely screened for SARS-CoV-2 via nasopharyngeal swab. Design: Cohort study of HCWs (N = 8205) followed since the start of the pandemic (1 March 2020) through 31 January 2023. The risk of reinfection during the Omicron transmission period (after 30 November 2021) among HCWs previously infected by SARS-CoV-2 was estimated based on days since last dose of COVID-19 vaccine received, adjusting for age, sex, job task, workplace, number of doses of COVID-19 vaccines and number of swab tests performed. In the crude as well as adjusted incidence rate analysis, reinfections occurring 15+ days after a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine or 8+ days following a second or more dose were counted. Results: In a highly vaccinated population, during the entire study period (1 March 2020–31 January 2023) 5253 HCWs incurred at least one SARS-CoV-2 infection, 4262 HCWs were infected only once, and 1091 were reinfected. Reinfections almost entirely (99.1% = 1071/1091) occurred after 30 November 2021, peaking in July 2022 (N = 161). Six hundred eighty-three reinfections followed a pre-Omicron primary event against 408 reinfections following an Omicron event. Reinfections during the Omicron transmission period occurred a mean of 400 ± 220 days after primary SARS-CoV-2 infection; 512 ± 205 days following a pre-Omicron primary event, as opposed to 218 ± 74 days after an Omicron primary infection. Thirty-four hospitalizations were observed, all before the Omicron wave, following 18 (0.4%) primary SARS-CoV-2 infections and 16 (1.5%) reinfections. By excluding events occurring <15 days after a first dose or <8 days after a further dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 605 reinfections followed a pre-Omicron primary event (raw incidence = 1.4 × 1000 person-days) against 404 after a primary Omicron infection (raw incidence = 0.3 × 1000 person-days). Apart from nurse aids (slightly enhanced biological risk) and academic HCWs (remarkably lower risk with pre-Omicron primary events), the effect of occupation in terms of job task and workplace was marginal. Furthermore, whilst the risk of reinfection was lower in males and HCWs < 60 years old following a pre-Omicron primary infection, HCWs aged 30–50 were more likely to be infected after an Omicron primary event. Regardless of timeline of primary SARS-CoV-2 event, the risk of reinfection decreased with higher number of doses of COVID-19 vaccines, being lowest after the second booster. In particular, VE was 16% for one dose, 51% for two doses, 76% for the booster and 92% for the second booster with a pre-Omicron primary SARS-CoV-2 event. The latter figures increased to 72%, 59%, 74% and 93%, respectively, with Omicron primary infections. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 reinfections were frequent during the Omicron transmission period, though featured by mild or no symptoms. Whilst the impact of occupation on biological risk was relatively marginal, COVID-19 vaccination had the strongest protective effect against reinfection, with a 93% VE by second booster following an Omicron primary infection.