tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Infect Dis. 2020 Apr 22. pii: jiaa205. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa205. [Epub ahead of print]
Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 26 asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers.
Pan Y[SUP]1[/SUP], Yu X[SUP]1[/SUP], Du X[SUP]2[/SUP], Li Q[SUP]1[/SUP], Li X[SUP]3[/SUP], Qin T[SUP]4[/SUP], Wang M[SUP]5[/SUP], Jiang M[SUP]6[/SUP], Li J[SUP]7[/SUP], Li W[SUP]8[/SUP], Zhang Q[SUP]9[/SUP], Xu Z[SUP]10[/SUP], Zhang L[SUP]11[/SUP].
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
We retrospectively analysed 26 persistently asymptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) carriers.
METHODS:
Epidemiological and clinical characteristics from the 26 asymptomatic patients with positive results for SARS-CoV-2 RNA testing were obtained.
RESULTS:
Twenty-two patients (84.6%) correlated with clustering occurrence. The median period from contact to diagnosis and the last positive nucleic acid test was 19 (8-24 days) and 21.5 days (10-36 days), respectively. The median period from diagnosis to negative nucleic acid test was significantly different between patients with normal or atypical chest computed tomography (CT) findings (n=16, 61.5%; 7.5 days [2-20 days]) and patients with typical ground-glass or patchy opacities on CT(n=10, 38.5%; 12.5 days[8-22 days]; P<0.01). Seven patients (70.0%) with initial positive nucleic acid test results had a negative result simultaneously with improved CT findings. Obvious improvement in CT findings was observed in three patients (30.0%) despite positive nucleic acid test results.
CONCLUSION:
In asymptomatic patients, changes in biochemical and inflammatory variables are small and changes on chest CT can occur. It is worth noting the long existence of SARS-CoV-2 in some asymptomatic patients and false-negative results need to be considered in SARS-CoV-2nucleic acid test.
? The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
KEYWORDS:
Coronavirus Disease 2019; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2; asymptomatic; clinical characteristics
PMID:32318703DOI:10.1093/infdis/jiaa205
Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 26 asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers.
Pan Y[SUP]1[/SUP], Yu X[SUP]1[/SUP], Du X[SUP]2[/SUP], Li Q[SUP]1[/SUP], Li X[SUP]3[/SUP], Qin T[SUP]4[/SUP], Wang M[SUP]5[/SUP], Jiang M[SUP]6[/SUP], Li J[SUP]7[/SUP], Li W[SUP]8[/SUP], Zhang Q[SUP]9[/SUP], Xu Z[SUP]10[/SUP], Zhang L[SUP]11[/SUP].
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
We retrospectively analysed 26 persistently asymptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) carriers.
METHODS:
Epidemiological and clinical characteristics from the 26 asymptomatic patients with positive results for SARS-CoV-2 RNA testing were obtained.
RESULTS:
Twenty-two patients (84.6%) correlated with clustering occurrence. The median period from contact to diagnosis and the last positive nucleic acid test was 19 (8-24 days) and 21.5 days (10-36 days), respectively. The median period from diagnosis to negative nucleic acid test was significantly different between patients with normal or atypical chest computed tomography (CT) findings (n=16, 61.5%; 7.5 days [2-20 days]) and patients with typical ground-glass or patchy opacities on CT(n=10, 38.5%; 12.5 days[8-22 days]; P<0.01). Seven patients (70.0%) with initial positive nucleic acid test results had a negative result simultaneously with improved CT findings. Obvious improvement in CT findings was observed in three patients (30.0%) despite positive nucleic acid test results.
CONCLUSION:
In asymptomatic patients, changes in biochemical and inflammatory variables are small and changes on chest CT can occur. It is worth noting the long existence of SARS-CoV-2 in some asymptomatic patients and false-negative results need to be considered in SARS-CoV-2nucleic acid test.
? The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
KEYWORDS:
Coronavirus Disease 2019; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2; asymptomatic; clinical characteristics
PMID:32318703DOI:10.1093/infdis/jiaa205