Laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 reinfection in the population treated at social security

The scientific community has questioned whether reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 is possible. Gradually, cases of reinfection have been documented. In Mexico, people with SARS-CoV-2 reinfection have not been officially identified. To allow a retrospective investigation of patients with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 and to identify how reinfected with this virus occurs in a population that requires medical attention. A retrospective search of the epidemiological surveillance system was performed to identify people who met the clinical criteria based on laboratory diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 and temporality to identify cases of reinfection. Clinical information was collected from clinical records. Seven people with two separate COVID-19 events were identified in medical units in Quintana Roo, Mexico between April and December 2020. The overall median interval between the two events was 156 days (61-191 days). Six people were health workers, and one was a member of the general population. This is one of the first reports of reinfection in health personnel in Mexico, revealing that the frequency of reinfection is low among positive cases and that the interval between infection episodes was three months. There are several scenarios in the natural history of the disease that must be considered based on adequate anamnesis with a clinical-epidemiological approach to determine the correct diagnostic category.

Automated summary

A retrospective study in Quintana Roo, Mexico identified seven cases of reinfection with SARS-CoV-2, with a low frequency among positive cases and an interval of three months between infection episodes. Six of the cases were healthcare workers, highlighting the importance of considering different scenarios in the natural history of the disease for accurate diagnosis.