ABSTRACT
Objectives: The time for PCR positivity to negativity is defined as nucleic acid conversion time (NCT) and is very important in terminating the isolation of patients and determining infectiousness in patients with COVID-19. The aim of this study is to determine the median NCT and to evaluate the clinical and laboratory parameters affecting it in patients with COVID-19. Methods: This study included 318 patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 diagnosed with PCR positivity retrospectively. Results: The median NCT was 11 days. Patients were divided into 2 groups as early (<11 days) and late conversion (≥11 days). Older age, sore throat, onset fever, fever 72 h after hospitalization, history of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 virus without a mask, and moderated disease were significantly more common in the late conversion group. In addition, favipiravir use was higher in early conversion group and hydroxychloroquine use was higher in late conversion group. In multivariate analysis, sore throat (OR = 2.570;95% CI: 1.051–6.284, P = 0.039) and hydroxychloroquine use (OR = 3.518, 95% CI: 1.163–10.635, P = 0,026) were independent risk factors for late conversion. Favipiravir use (OR = 0.062, 95% CI: 0.021–0.184, P = 0.0001) negatively affected the late conversion. Conclusion: NCT was longer in patients with COVID-19 who had sore throat at admission and were treated with hydroxychloroquine instead of favipiravir. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Health Sciences (Qassim University) is the property of Journal of Health Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)