Comparison of culture-competent virus shedding duration of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in regard to vaccination status: A prospective cohort study

Sung-Woon Kang; Heedo Park; Ji Yeun Kim; Joon-Yong Bae; Man-Seong Park; Sung-Han Kim

doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.03.044

Comparison of culture-competent virus shedding duration of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in regard to vaccination status: A prospective cohort study

Vaccine. 2023 Apr 24;41(17):2769-2772. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.03.044. Epub 2023 Mar 27.

Authors

Sung-Woon Kang¹, Heedo Park², Ji Yeun Kim¹, Joon-Yong Bae³, Man-Seong Park⁴, Sung-Han Kim⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Infectious Diseases, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
² BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea; Department of Microbiology, Institute for Viral Diseases, Vaccine Innovation Center, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
³ BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
⁴ BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea; Department of Microbiology, Institute for Viral Diseases, Vaccine Innovation Center, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: ms0392@korea.ac.kr.
⁵ Department of Infectious Diseases, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: shkimmd@amc.seoul.kr.

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that fully vaccinated patients with SARS-CoV-2 Delta variants has shorter viable viral shedding period compared to unvaccinated or partially vaccinated patients. However, data about effects of vaccination against the viable viral shedding period in patients with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants were limited. We compared the viable viral shedding period of SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant regard to vaccination status. Saliva samples were obtained daily from patients with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, and genomic assessments and virus culture was performed to those samples. We found no difference in viable viral shedding period between fully vaccinated and not or partially vaccinated, nor between 1st boostered vs non-boostered patients with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.

Keywords: Infection dynamics; SARS-CoV-2; Virus shedding.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / prevention & control
Humans
Prospective Studies
SARS-CoV-2* / genetics
Vaccination
Virus Shedding

Supplementary concepts

SARS-CoV-2 variants