Do Patients With Chronic Rhinosinusitis Exhibit Elevated Rates of Covid-19 Infection?

Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) may have concerns regarding their potential for an increased likelihood of contracting Covid-19, given baseline inflammatory disease and utilization of topical or oral immunosuppressive therapies for disease treatment. In the present study, we utilize matched cohort sampling of over 12,000 CRS patients and 12,000 controls seen between June of 2020 and January of 2021, examining rates of Covid-19 testing and positivity during that time period. We found no difference in Covid-19 contraction between CRS patients and matched non-CRS patients, despite an almost twofold significant increase in testing among those with CRS. This suggests that CRS patients are likely not inherently more vulnerable to Covid-19 infection at a rate above that of the general population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 132:257-258, 2022.

Chronic rhinosinusitis is associated with prolonged SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding in upper respiratory tract samples: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 causative agent, has infected millions of people and killed over 1.6 million worldwide. A small percentage of cases persist with prolonged positive RT-PCR on nasopharyngeal swabs. The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for prolonged viral shedding amongst patient's basal clinical conditions. METHODS: We have evaluated all 513 patients attended in our hospital between 1 March and 1 July. We have selected all 18 patients with prolonged viral shedding and compared them with 36 sex-matched randomly selected controls. Demographic, treatment and clinical data were systematically collected. RESULTS: Global median duration of viral clearance was 25.5 days (n = 54; IQR, 22-39.3 days), 48.5 days in cases (IQR 38.7-54.9 days) and 23 days in controls (IQR 20.2-25.7), respectively. There were not observed differences in demographic, symptoms or treatment data between groups. Chronic rhinosinusitis and atopy were more common in patients with prolonged viral shedding (67%) compared with controls (11% and 25% respectively) (P < 0.001 and P = 0.003). The use of inhaled corticosteroids was also more frequent in case group (P = 0.007). Multivariate analysis indicated that CRS (odds ratio [OR], 18.78; 95% confidence interval [95%CI], 3.89-90.59; P < 0.001) was independently associated with prolonged SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding in URT samples, after adjusting for initial PCR Ct values. CONCLUSION: We found that chronic rhinosinusitis and atopy might be associated with increased risk of prolonged viral shedding. If confirmed in prospective trials, this finding might have clinical implications for quarantine duration due to increased risk of pandemic spread.

Management of complicated pediatric rhinosinusitis in the COVID-19 era.

With the ongoing development of the COVID-19 pandemic, research continues to emerge regarding the pathophysiology, characteristics, and treatment considerations for patients with COVID-19. No reports have highlighted the specific challenges posed in the management of pediatric patients with COVID-19 who present with complicated rhinosinusitis. In this report, we discuss our preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative multidisciplinary treatment strategy for these cases and provide two examples of complicated rhinosinusitis cases in COVID-19 patients, treated with two different approaches. Pearls, insights, and a brief review of the literature are discussed.