SARS-CoV-2 Clinical Characteristics and Viral Shedding in Kuwait.
Med Princ Pract
; 31(1): 93-97, 2022.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1562353
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection and estimate viral shedding duration in respiratory specimens.METHODS:
A retrospective cohort study was performed from February 25 to March 25, 2020. In Kuwait, all suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, contacts of cases, and returning travelers were systematically tested for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR. All infected persons, regardless of symptoms, were hospitalized and serially tested until they had two negative results. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were performed.RESULTS:
Two hundred seven cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were included in this study. About half of the cases were asymptomatic and 1.9% died. The median time to negative RT-PCR was 22 days. Increasing age, ARDS, and low peripheral white blood cell count were associated with prolonged PCR positivity.CONCLUSION:
Predictors for prolonged RT-PCR positivity included increasing age, ARDS, and low white blood cell count. The findings of this study may aid in better understanding of the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection and molecular testing dynamics.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Oropharynx
/
Nasopharynx
/
Virus Shedding
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Med Princ Pract
Journal subject:
Education
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
000521408
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