SARS-COV-2 re-infection in a young male. Are we immune after an initial encounter?

Abstract

We herewith report a case of severe SARS-COV-2 re-infection in an adult approximately thirteen weeks after he retested negative for initial infection. This case highlights re-infection with SARS-COV-2 is possible in an individual only few weeks after recovery from initial infection.

            Patients who recover from COVID-19 are immune to re-infection with SARS-COV-2 and develop both cell and antibody mediated immune response which depends upon the severity of infection. Mild or asymptomatic disease leads to weaker immune response that wanes off rapidly within few months compared to severe disease¹.However, uncertainty remains whether the immune response protects against subsequent re-infection and what level of neutralizing antibody is protective. We herewith describe a case of severe SARS-COV-2 re-infection in an adult approximately 11 weeks after he tested negative following an asymptomatic detection of COVID 19 positivity upon contact tracing of COVID 19 positive case.