Your browser doesn't support javascript.
Evaluation of the SARS-CoV-2 positivity ratio and upper respiratory tract viral load among asymptomatic individuals screened before hospitalization or surgery in Flanders, Belgium.
Heireman, Laura; Abrams, Steven; Bruynseels, Peggy; Cartuyvels, Reinoud; Cuypers, Lize; De Schouwer, Pieter; Laffut, Wim; Lagrou, Katrien; Hens, Niel; Ho, Erwin; Padalko, Elizaveta; Reynders, Marijke; Vandamme, Sarah; Van der Moeren, Nathalie; Verstrepen, Walter; Willems, Philippe; Naesens, Reinout.
  • Heireman L; Department of Laboratory Medicine, ZiekenhuisNetwerk Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium.
  • Abrams S; Data Science Institute, Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and statistical Bioinformatics (I-BioStat), UHasselt, Hasselt, Belgium.
  • Bruynseels P; Global Health Institute, Family Medicine and Population Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
  • Cartuyvels R; Department of Laboratory Medicine, ZiekenhuisNetwerk Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium.
  • Cuypers L; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jessa Hospital, Hasselt, Belgium.
  • De Schouwer P; Department of Laboratory Medicine and National Reference Center for Respiratory Pathogens, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
  • Laffut W; Department of Laboratory Medicine, ZiekenhuisNetwerk Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium.
  • Lagrou K; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Heilig Hart Hospital, Lier, Belgium.
  • Hens N; Department of Laboratory Medicine and National Reference Center for Respiratory Pathogens, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
  • Ho E; Data Science Institute, Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and statistical Bioinformatics (I-BioStat), UHasselt, Hasselt, Belgium.
  • Padalko E; Centre for Health Economic Research and Modelling Infectious Diseases, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
  • Reynders M; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sint-Maarten Hospital, Mechelen, Belgium.
  • Vandamme S; Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
  • Van der Moeren N; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sint-Jan Hospital, Bruges, Belgium.
  • Verstrepen W; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.
  • Willems P; Department of Laboratory Medicine, ZiekenhuisNetwerk Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium.
  • Naesens R; Department of Laboratory Medicine, ZiekenhuisNetwerk Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium.
PLoS One ; 16(11): e0259908, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1705817
ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION:

The incidence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in the Belgian community is mainly estimated based on test results of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-like symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positivity ratio and distribution of viral loads within a cohort of asymptomatic patients screened prior hospitalization or surgery, stratified by age category. MATERIALS/

METHODS:

We retrospectively studied data on SARS-CoV-2 real-time RT-PCR detection in respiratory tract samples of asymptomatic patients screened pre-hospitalization or pre-surgery in nine Belgian hospitals located in Flanders over a 12-month period (1 April 2020-31 March 2021).

RESULTS:

In total, 255925 SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test results and 2421 positive results for which a viral load was reported, were included in this study. An unweighted overall SARS-CoV-2 real-time RT-PCR positivity ratio of 1.27% was observed with strong spatiotemporal differences. SARS-CoV-2 circulated predominantly in 80+ year old individuals across all time periods except between the first and second COVID-19 wave and in 20-30 year old individuals before the second COVID-19 wave. In contrast to the first wave, a significantly higher positivity ratio was observed for the 20-40 age group in addition to the 80+ age group compared to the other age groups during the second wave. The median viral load follows a similar temporal evolution as the positivity rate with an increase ahead of the second wave and highest viral loads observed for 80+ year old individuals.

CONCLUSION:

There was a high SARS-CoV-2 circulation among asymptomatic patients with a predominance and highest viral loads observed in the elderly. Moreover, ahead of the second COVID-19 wave an increase in median viral load was noted with the highest overall positivity ratio observed in 20-30 year old individuals, indicating they could have been the hidden drivers of this wave.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Respiratory Tract Infections / Asymptomatic Diseases / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adolescent / Adult / Aged / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged / Young adult Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0259908

Similar

MEDLINE

...
LILACS

LIS


Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Respiratory Tract Infections / Asymptomatic Diseases / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adolescent / Adult / Aged / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged / Young adult Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0259908