The percentage of CD39+ monocytes is higher in pregnant COVID-19+ patients than in nonpregnant COVID-19+ patients.

Current medical guidelines consider pregnant women with COVID-19 to be a high-risk group. Since physiological gestation downregulates the immunological response to maintain "maternal-fetal tolerance", SARS-CoV-2 infection may constitute a potentially threatening condition to both the mother and the fetus. To establish the immune profile in pregnant COVID-19+ patients, a cross-sectional study was conducted. Pregnant women with COVID-19 (P-COVID-19+; n = 15) were analyzed and compared with nonpregnant women with COVID-19 (NP-COVID-19+; n = 15) or those with physiological pregnancy (P-COVID-19-; n = 13). Serological cytokine and chemokine concentrations, leucocyte immunophenotypes, and mononuclear leucocyte responses to polyclonal stimuli were analyzed in all groups. Higher concentrations of serological TNF-α, IL-6, MIP1b and IL-4 were observed within the P-COVID-19+ group, while cytokines and chemokines secreted by peripheral leucocytes in response to LPS, IL-6 or PMA-ionomicin were similar among the groups. Immunophenotype analysis showed a lower percentage of HLA-DR+ monocytes in P-COVID-19+ than in P-COVID-19- and a higher percentage of CD39+ monocytes in P-COVID-19+ than in NP-COVID-19+. After whole blood polyclonal stimulation, similar percentages of T cells and TNF+ monocytes between groups were observed. Our results suggest that P-COVID-19+ elicits a strong inflammatory response similar to NP-COVID19+ but also displays an anti-inflammatory response that controls the ATP/adenosine balance and prevents hyperinflammatory damage in COVID-19.

Demographic and clinical characteristics in asymptomatic health workers with positive SARS-CoV-2 test, Hospital General de México “Dr. Eduardo Liceaga”

Objective: The objective of the study was to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics found in personnel screened during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic.Materials and methods: Nasal and oropharyngeal swab samples were collected in the period between May 11 and May 26, 2020, from 496 people. They were followed up by means of a questionnaire at 0, 7, and 14 days. Results: 449 people answered the surveys (73 excluded);age range: 21-63 years, mean of 39.4 years. About 77% had contact with patients with coronavirus infection, (32% had an exposure time of < 8 h a week, 24% 8-16 h a week and 20% more than 16 h a week). The most frequent comorbidity in the population was obesity (13.8%), followed by asthma (8%) and DM2 (1%). The most common symptom was headache (34%), followed by nasal obstruction (25%) and odynophagia in third place (22%);16% presented alterations in the perception of odors. Among the surveyed personnel, 17 (4.5%) tested positive for SARS-COV2 by means of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Conclusions: In line with this pandemic, a screening protocol was started for asymptomatic health-care personnel for the recognition of infections caused by this virus to establish barriers that will prevent the spread and provide the basis for the standardization of this practice and the protection of healthcare personnel.