SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid positive rate among close contacts of the patients infected with novel Coronavirus in China: a meta-analysis

ABSTRACT

The aim this meta-analaysis was to understand the current status of nucleic acid positivity rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in close contacts of novel coronavirus-infected patients in China. The literature related to SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing in close contacts of novel coronavirus-infected patients in China was searched in PubMed, EMbase, China Journal Full-text Data Base (CNKI), Wanfang Science and Technology Journal Full-text Database, and Veep Chinese Science and Technology Journal Full-text Database (VIP) from December 2019 to December 2020. 24 December 2019-2020. The quality of the literature was evaluated with reference to the revised American Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) statement. StataSE15.0 software was used for meta-analysis, combined positive rates were calculated using the Freeman-Tukey double inverse sine conversion method, subgroup analysis was performed according to sex, age, infected person relationship, mode of infection and frequency of exposure, and sensitivity analysis and Egger's method was used to test for publication bias. Results A total of 11 publications were included, with a total sample size of 24 906 cases. The SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid positivity rate in the close contact population of novel coronavirus-infected patients was 5.42% (95% CI 3.57%-7.64%), and subgroup analysis showed that the positivity rate was 4.35% in males and 6.36% in females;the positivity rate was 5.88% in the 0-9 years group and 4.76% in the 10-59 years group. The positive rates were 5.88% for the 0-9 years group, 4.76% for the 10-59 years group and 8.73% for the =60 years group;13.42% for family members and 2.09% for others;11.44% for people living together, 9.90% for meals and 1.95% for other modes of infection;and 1.32%, 6.12% and 9.60% for occasional, normal and frequent contacts, respectively. The differences between the subgroups were statistically significant (?2 = 37.89 to 809.90, all P < 0.05). The sensitivity analysis suggested stable results and the Egger's test for publication bias was not statistically significant (t=0.93, P=0.376). Conclusion Close contacts of novel coronavirus-infected individuals in the Chinese region have a positive rate for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid.