Katie Klatt, Battling COVID-19

Battling COVID-19

In March 2020, at the start of the pandemic, Katie Klatt, a nurse on a COVID-19 infection control team, received unsettling news: she had contracted the virus herself.

“I wasn’t too surprised,” Katie recalls. “I kind of knew, but the actual confirmation was a little bit scary. It was early on, so no one in the US really understood how bad it was.”

Katie, a former PICU nurse pursuing a Master’s in Public Health at the Harvard Chan School, navigated her illness with the same professionalism she brought to her career. Now fully recovered, she is a patient participant in a COVID-19 antibody clinical study, using her experience to support others on the frontlines.

Navigating Illness: A Firsthand Experience

Katie’s COVID-19 journey began with telehealth consultations, but as her symptoms worsened, she needed in-person care. Navigating a new city without established healthcare connections posed challenges. After being turned away from urgent care for not being a previous patient, she reluctantly walked 40 minutes to the emergency room, too concerned about spreading the virus to take other transportation.

At the ER, Katie observed the swift infection control protocols in action. “When I walked in, people started to call ‘Rule out!’ meaning a COVID-19 patient is entering. Staff quickly distanced themselves to protect others,” she recalls. Upon discharge, she faced another hurdle: obtaining medication. With the hospital pharmacy closed, Katie improvised by using a clear plastic bag to safely pass her prescription to a friend, who filled it on her behalf.

Despite enduring a high fever of 103°F for 10 days and battling a concurrent sinus infection, Katie remained vigilant. Her nursing background informed her isolation practices, such as sanitizing surfaces and limiting contact with her roommates, who ultimately avoided infection. Care packages, phone calls, and texts from loved ones helped her stay positive during recovery.

From Patient to Advocate

As Katie regained her strength, she turned her experience into an opportunity to assist others. She joined a two-year clinical study monitoring COVID-19 antibody levels in recovered patients. Each month, her blood is drawn and analyzed, contributing valuable data to understanding immunity.

In her professional role with Boston Emergency Medical Services, Katie shares her story with EMTs and paramedics exposed to or infected by the virus. “This is an isolating disease,” she explains. “Not having a stigma attached to it is important. It helps when I share what I went through.”

While Katie admits to some pandemic fatigue, she continues to take precautions, wearing a mask everywhere and urging others to remain vigilant. “Just because we’re opening up doesn’t mean it’s over,” she says. “Wear a mask to protect yourself and others. Keep talking about it so people don’t forget.”