Positive rate of RT-PCR detection of SARS-CoV-2 infectionin 1850 cases from the Regional General Hospital'F. Miulli', in Apulian Region, Italy from March to April 2020

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim of the study The COVID-19 pandemic israpidly spreading throughout the globe. Recent reports suggestthat 10-30% of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients are asymptomatic.Here, we reported the positive rate of COVID-19 tests supportedon RT-PCR, from March 14 to April 15 in General Hospital 'F. Miulli'(South of Italy). We observed a ~18% SARS-CoV-2 positive ratefrom 912 tests. Methods: The study was a retrospective study conducted in Regional General Hospital 'F. Miulli' (Acquaviva delle Fonti, BA), whichwas a chosen hospital for Covid-19 patients. The diagnosis ofCovid-19 was according to World Health Organization interim guidance and confirmed by RNA detection of the SARS-CoV-2 in onsiteclinical laboratory. Results: Nasopharyngeal swabs showed poor positive rate in 912cases, 163 out of 912 (17.9%) were positive by RT-PCR test withtheir respiratory specimens. Among this, 92.8% were positive forall the three target genes. Male had a higher positive rate than female in the total 912 cases. The male patients are 107, femaleare 56. The Positive Rate were significantly higher in male than infemale cases (p < 0.01). When we analyzed the positive rate according to age, we could see that positive rate increased from0.6% (age 18-30) to 25.0% (age >70) and 30.8% (age 50-59).Gender and age are two risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection.Conclusions: Therefore, consistent with other reports, we couldconclude that for suspect SARS-CoV-2 infection, positive percentage would be higher in male and old, but in Fever Clinics, genderwas not a risk factor.