The importance of prevalence and pre-test probability on the microbiological diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2: the case of Spain in 2020.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work was to estimate the conditioned probability for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), viral antigen rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDT), and antibody detection tests depending on the prevalence in the specific healthcare settings in Spain in 2020, and on the pre-test probability (PTP) according to the clinical situation, age and unknown or close contacts of the patient. METHODS: Performance parameters of tests were obtained from literature. Prevalence data and PTP were obtained from Spanish sources and a survey, respectively. The post-test probability is the positive predictive value (PPV) when test is positive. For negative result, we also calculated the probability of having the infection (false negatives). RESULTS: For both RT-PCR and viral Ag-RDT, the lowest PPV values were for the population screenings. This strategy proved to be useful in ruling out infection but generates a high number of false positives. At individual level, both tools provided high PPV (≥ 97%) when the PTP values are over 35%. In seroprevalence studies, though the specificity of IgG alone tests is high, under low seroprevalence, false positives cannot be avoided. Total antibodies tests are useful for diagnosis of COVID-19 in those doubtful cases with RT-PCR or Ag-RDT tests being repeatedly negative. CONCLUSIONS: The interpretating of results depends not only on the accuracy of the test, but also on the prevalence of the infection in different settings, and the PTP associated to the patient before performing the test.

Echinococcus granulosus infection in Spain.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by the cestode Echinococcus granulosus is an endemic disease in Spain. Although specific control programmes initiated in the 1980s have led to marked reductions in CE infection rates in Spain, the disease still remains an important human and animal health problem in many regions of the country. Human incidence and livestock (including sheep, cattle, pigs and horses) prevalence data were gathered from national epidemiological surveillance information systems and regional institutions for the period 2000-2005. Additionally, data on the prevalence of E. granulosus infection in dogs were obtained from published literature. The most affected regions were those of the North Eastern, Central and Western parts of the country, (Autonomous Regions of Aragon, Castile-La Mancha, Castile-Leon, Extremadura, Navarre and La Rioja), where human CE incidence rates in the range of 1.1-3.4 cases per 10(5) inhabitants coexist with ovine/bovine CE prevalence rates up to 23%. Control programmes of hydatidosis/echinococcosis should be reinforced in these regions to reduce the prevalence of the disease.