ABSTRACT
Aim: The epidemiological characteristics and modes of transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children are not yet fully understood. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings and treatment approaches in patients with negative and positive PCR tests among those with suspected COVID-19 retrospectively. Material and Methods: This study was conducted with 317 patients under 18 years of age, who received outpatient or inpatient treatment with a pre-diagnosis of COVID-19. All patients were assessed for clinical course, disease severity, comorbidity, demographic characteristics, laboratory and radiodiagnostic tests, treatment characteristics, and outcomes. Results: The PCR test was positive in 133 (42%) and negative in 184 (58%) of the patients with suspected COVID-19. There was a history of contact in 78 (58.6%) and 51 (27.7%) of the PCR-positive and negative patients, respectively (p<0.001). While the PCR-negative group had a higher rate of hospitalization (p=0.020), hospital stay was longer in PCR-positive cases (p=0.037). The white blood cell count (p=0.001), platelet count (p=0.037), neutrophil count (p=0.015), and lactate level (p=0.025) were significantly lower in the PCR-positive group. Conclusion: Early detection and isolation of children with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 are important to limit the spread of the disease. It can be challenging initially to clinically understand whether the case has COVID-19, especially in pediatric patients. PCR test is the gold standard in the diagnosis of COVID-19. Considering the prevalence, severity, and complications of the outbreak, it would be a proper approach to initially evaluate suspected patients as COVID-19 patients.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Herein, we will present the details of the patients admitted to a tertiary center, in Turkey, with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who were carrying the criteria for in-patient treatment. The definite clinical outcomes (death or discharge) of the patients are recorded and we aimed to determine the effects of comorbidities and the drugs they were using on outcomes. Materials and methods: Patient records were retrospectively evaluated from medical records. The detection of the Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in respiratory specimens is performed by next-generation sequencing or real-time RT-PCR methods. Results: Totally 298 patients diagnosed with and in-patient followed for COVID-19 infection were included in the study. During follow-ups, 239 were discharged without intensive care unit (ICU) requirements. The mortality rate was 8.7% in these hospitalized patients. The mean age of the expired and discharged patients were significantly different (69.48 ±10.02 vs. 56.82 ±15.52, p:0.001). ACE-I-ARB and beta-blocker usages were significantly more common in expired patients. Risk estimates were performed with crosstabs. Regarding these findings, age ≥ 65 years increased the risk of mortality for 5.145 times (2.130 -12.426);the presence of hypertension increased the risk of mortality for 3.55 times (1.63-7.74);coronary artery disease for 3.07 times (1.39-6.78);ACE-I-ARB usage for 2.77 times (1.32 - 5.82);beta-blocker usage for 2.88 times (1.33-6.23) and sulfonylurea usage for 3.42 times (1.34-8.72). Conclusion: Older age, presence of hypertension and coronary artery disease and using ACE-I, ARB or beta-blockers were increasing the risk of mortality. © 2021 A. CARBONE Editore. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Shortly after the first cases were reported in late 2019 in Wuhan Province of China, SARS CoV 2 spread all over the world and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 12, 2020. In Turkey the first case was in March 10, 2020 and March 25, 2020 in Duzce. Duzce University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, PCR laboratory was declared to be "T.C. Ministry of Health Duzce authorized Covid 19 PCR laboratory " in 28.03.2020. Samples are sent to our laboratory from all provincial and district hospitals, private hospitals and public health institutions in Duzce. This is the only Covid 19 center in our city and it works for 7 days a week. In our laboratory, Covid 19 antibody tests are carried out with card tests and ELISA methods. A total of 8500 COVID 19 PCR tests and 2200 anti Covid19 ELISA total antibody tests were studied in our laboratory within three months. Although covid 19 patients are not followed in our hospital, pandemic process continues in our laboratory. In addition, all PCR studies and IFA studies of the hospital are carried out in this laboratory.
ABSTRACT
In Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it is important to evaluate disease activity and investigate possible biomarkers. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the relationship between disease activity and serum levels of possible immune activation marker neopterin in patients with COVID-19. The study enrolled 45 patients (23 females, 51.1%) treated for COVID-19. The patients were divided into two groups according to their clinical presentation: those who recovered quickly (Group 1) and those who worsened progressively (Group 2). The neopterin and C-reactive protein levels were high in all patients on admission. In Group1, neopterin concentrations and serum neopterin/creatinine ratios were significantly higher on admission compared to Day 14 of the disease, whereas in Group 2, levels were significantly higher at Day 14 of the disease than on admission. Neopterin levels at admission were significantly higher in Group 1. The serum neopterin concentrations at admission were markedly higher in patients with a derived neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR) > 2.8 compared to those with a dNLR <= 2.8 (p < 0.05). Serum neopterin levels can be used as a prognostic biomarker in predicting disease activity in COVID-19.