Dynamic profile of RT-PCR findings from 301 COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, China: A descriptive study.
J Clin Virol
; 127: 104346, 2020 06.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-46206
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
With the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, its effect on society is amplified. We aimed to describe the viral detection results across different timepoints throughout the disease course.METHODS:
A retrospective study of 301 confirmed COVID-19 patients hospitalized at Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, China, were included. Demographic characteristics of the patients were collected. Upper respiratory specimens (throat and/or nasal swabs) were obtained and analyzed by real-time RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Period of viral infection and the contagious stage were analyzed.RESULTS:
Of 301 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, the median age was 58 years and 51.2 % were male. The median period between symptoms presence and positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR results was 16 days (IQR, 10-23, Nâ¯=â¯301). The median period between symptoms presence and an effective negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR result was 20 days (IQR, 17-24; Nâ¯=â¯216). Infected patient ≥65 years old stayed contagious longer (22 days vs 19 days, pâ¯=â¯0.015). Although two consecutive negative results were confirmed in 70 patients, 30 % of them had positive viral test results for the third time. Using specimens from nasal swabs to run the RT-PCR test showed a higher positive rate than using specimens from throat swabs.CONCLUSIONS:
This large-scale investigation with 1113 RT-PCR test results from 301 COVID-19 patients showed that the average contagious period of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients was 20 days. Longer observation period and more than 2 series of negative viral test are necessary for patients ≥65 years.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pharynx
/
Pneumonia, Viral
/
Nose
/
Coronavirus Infections
/
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
Topics:
Long Covid
/
Vaccines
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
/
Young adult
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
J Clin Virol
Journal subject:
Virology
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS