Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Incidence and Epidemiology of Catheter-Related Bacteremia, Spain.

We compared hospital-acquired catheter-related bacteremia (CRB) episodes diagnosed at acute care hospitals in Catalonia, Spain, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 with those detected during 2007-2019. We compared the annual observed and predicted CRB rates by using the negative binomial regression model and calculated stratified annual root mean squared errors. A total of 10,030 episodes were diagnosed during 2007-2020. During 2020, the observed CRB incidence rate was 0.29/103 patient-days, whereas the predicted CRB rate was 0.14/103 patient-days. The root mean squared error was 0.153. Thus, a substantial increase in hospital-acquired CRB cases was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 compared with the rate predicted from 2007-2019. The incidence rate was expected to increase by 1.07 (95% CI 1-1.15) for every 1,000 COVID-19-related hospital admissions. We recommend maintaining all CRB prevention efforts regardless of the coexistence of other challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quantification and Progress Over Time of Specific Antibodies Against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Breast Milk of Lactating Women Vaccinated With BNT162b2 Pfizer-BioNTech Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine (LacCOVID).

Background: Several observational studies demonstrated the passage of postvaccine antibodies through breast milk in women vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), mostly with messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccines, but lacked long-term data. Methods: A 6-month prospective cohort study was performed to determine severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine-induced antibody levels in the breast milk of 33 lactating healthcare workers at different timepoints after mRNA BNT162b2 Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination. Moreover, we examined the correlation of SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels between serum and breast milk, adverse events related to vaccination, and rate of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Results: Mothers' median age was 38 (interquartile range [IQR], 36-39) years and 15 (IQR, 10-22) months for infants. Median (IQR) SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) spike protein subunit S1 (S1) vaccine-induced levels at different timepoints for serum-milk pairs were 519 (234-937) to 1 (0-2.9) arbitrary units (AU)/mL at 2 weeks after first dose and 18 644 (9923-29 264) to 78 (33.7-128), 12 478 (6870-20 801) to 50.4 (24.3-104), 4094 (2413-8480) to 19.9 (10.8-51.9), 1350 (831-2298) to 8.9 (7.8-31.5) AU/mL at 2, 4, 12 and 24 weeks after second dose, respectively. We observed a positive correlation of antibody levels between serum and breast milk, no serious adverse events related to vaccination, and 2 (6%) COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infections. Conclusions: Women vaccinated with Pfizer-BioNTech transmit antibodies into breast milk with a positive correlation with serum levels. Both decreased over time in a 6-month follow-up.

Quantification and progress over time of specific antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk of lactating women vaccinated with BNT162b2 Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (LacCOVID)

Background Transfer of passive and active immunity through human milk is a key aspect in infant protection against infections. Several observational studies demonstrated the passage of postvaccine antibodies through breast milk in women vaccinated against COVID-19, mostly with mRNA-based vaccines, but lacked long-term data. Methods A six-month prospective cohort study was performed to determine SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-induced antibody levels in the breast milk of 33 lactating healthcare workers at different time-points after mRNA BNT162b2 Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination. Moreover, we examined the correlation of SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels between serum and breast milk, adverse events related to vaccination (AErV) and rate of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Results Mothers’ median (IQR) age was 38(36-39) years and 15(10-22) months for infants. SARS-CoV-2 IgG-S1 vaccine-induced levels at different time-points for serum–milk pairs, median (IQR), were: 519(234-937) to 1(0-2.9) arbitrary units (AU)/mL at 2w after first dose, 18,644(9,923-29,264) to 78(33.7-128) AU/mL at 2w, 12,478(6,870-20,801) to 50.4(24.3-104) AU/mL at 4w, 4,094(2,413-8,480) to 19.9(10.8-51.9) AU/mL at 12w, and 1,350(831-2,298) to 8.9(7.8-31.5) at 24w after second dose. We observed a positive correlation of antibody levels between serum and breast milk (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.68), no serious AErV and 2(6%) COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infections. Conclusions Women vaccinated with Pfizer-BioNTech transmit antibodies into breast milk with a positive correlation with serum levels. Both decreased over time in a 6-month follow-up. Finally, Infants of breastfeeding vaccinated women could be acquiring vaccine antibodies for at least six months after vaccination and serum determination of SARS-CoV-2 IgG-S1 could indicate breastmilk antibody levels.