scholarly journals COVID-19 outbreak among French firefighters, Marseille, France, 2020

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (41) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume André Durand ◽  
Franck de Laval ◽  
Albane de Bonet d’Oléon ◽  
François Xavier Le Flem ◽  
Yann Morin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Symptom Onset ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Early Research ◽  
Third Generation ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Neutralising Antibodies ◽  
Outbreak Management ◽  
Viral Culture ◽  
Outbreak Period ◽  
Fire Station

We investigated a COVID-19 outbreak at a fire station in Marseille, France. Confirmed cases were defined as individuals with positive SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and/or neutralising antibodies. All 85 firefighters at work during the outbreak period were included after questioning and sampled for RT-PCR and viral neutralisation assay. Twenty-three firefighters were confirmed positive, 19 of them were symptomatic, and four asymptomatic cases were confirmed by virus neutralisation. A total of 22 firefighters had specific neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Neutralising antibodies were found in four asymptomatic and 18 symptomatic cases. Eleven symptomatic cases had high titres (≥ 1:80). The earliest detection of neutralising antibodies was 7 days after symptom onset, and 80% had neutralising antibodies 15 days after onset. One viral culture was positive 13 days after onset. The attack rate was 27%. We identified two introductions of the virus in this outbreak, through a presymptomatic and a paucisymptomatic case. Asymptomatic cases were not the source of a third generation of cases, although they worked without wearing a mask, indicating that asymptomatic cases did not play a significant role in this outbreak. Management and strategy based on early research of clinical signs associated with self-quarantine was effective.

scholarly journals Clinical Course of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Adults with ESKD Receiving Outpatient Hemodialysis

Kidney360 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (12) ◽  
pp. 1917-1927
Author(s):  
Ana Cecilia Bardossy ◽  
Lauren Korhonen ◽  
Sabrina Schatzman ◽  
Paige Gable ◽  
Carolyn Herzig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Symptom Onset ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Clinical Course ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Specific Antibodies ◽  
Viral Culture ◽  
Maintenance Dialysis ◽  
Dialysis Facilities

BackgroundPatients with ESKD on maintenance dialysis receive dialysis in common spaces with other patients and have a higher risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infections. They may have persistently or intermittently positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests after infection. We describe the clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the serologic response in a convenience sample of patients with ESKD to understand the duration of infectivity.MethodsFrom August to November 2020, we enrolled patients on maintenance dialysis with SARS-CoV-2 infections from outpatient dialysis facilities in Atlanta, Georgia. We followed participants for approximately 42 days. We assessed COVID-19 symptoms and collected specimens. Oropharyngeal (OP), anterior nasal (AN), and saliva (SA) specimens were tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA, using RT-PCR, and sent for viral culture. Serology, including neutralizing antibodies, was measured in blood specimens.ResultsFifteen participants, with a median age of 58 (range, 37‒77) years, were enrolled. Median duration of RT-PCR positivity from diagnosis was 18 days (interquartile range [IQR], 8‒24 days). Ten participants had at least one, for a total of 41, positive RT-PCR specimens ≥10 days after symptoms onset. Of these 41 specimens, 21 underwent viral culture; one (5%) was positive 14 days after symptom onset. Thirteen participants developed SARS-CoV-2–specific antibodies, 11 of which included neutralizing antibodies. RT-PCRs remained positive after seroconversion in eight participants and after detection of neutralizing antibodies in four participants; however, all of these samples were culture negative.ConclusionsPatients with ESKD on maintenance dialysis remained persistently and intermittently SARS-CoV-2–RT-PCR positive. However, of the 15 participants, only one had infectious virus, on day 14 after symptom onset. Most participants mounted an antibody response, including neutralizing antibodies. Participants continued having RT-PCR–positive results in the presence of SARS-CoV-2–specific antibodies, but without replication-competent virus detected.

scholarly journals Viral Culture in Hospitalized Congregate Care Patients With Prolonged SARS-CoV-2 Viral RNA Detection

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 734-735
Author(s):  
Thilaka Arunachalam ◽  
Amit Singh ◽  
Kathleen Stellrecht ◽  
Sarah Elmendorf ◽  
Tarani K Barman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Viral Load ◽  
Symptom Onset ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Active Virus ◽  
Viral Culture ◽  
Congregate Care

Abstract Prolonged detection of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA has been observed in hospitalized congregate care patients following resolution of clinical symptoms. It is unknown whether patients with persistent PCR positivity pose a risk for COVID-19 transmission. The purpose of this study was to examine the results of serial PCR testing, viral load, and viral culture in patients awaiting discharge prior to a negative PCR test. We sampled 14 patients who were admitted from skilled nursing and/or rehabilitation facilities to a large academic medical center, had clinical signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and had multiple PCR-positive tests separated by at least 14 days. PCR-positive nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from each patient for viral load quantification and viral culture. The mean age of patients was 72.5 years (55 – 92), with a mean peak SOFA score of 5.6 (1 – 11). Patients were hospitalized for a mean of 37.0 days (25 – 60). RNA was detected by PCR for a mean of 32.9 days (19 – 47). Mean viral load for the first PCR-positive nasopharyngeal swab collected at our hospital was 5.81 genomic copies/mL (2.12 – 9.72). Viral load decreased significantly with days from clinical symptom onset (R = -0.69, 95% CI, -0.80 – -0.55). Four out of 28 samples grew active virus via culture, with no active virus isolates after 2 days of symptom onset. Our viral culture data suggests that persistent PCR positivity may not correlate with infectivity, which has important implications for COVID-19 infection control precautions among older congregate care patients.

scholarly journals Clinical and laboratory characteristics of symptomatic healthcare workers with suspected COVID-19: a prospective cohort study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonin Bal ◽  
Karen Brengel-Pesce ◽  
Alexandre Gaymard ◽  
Grégory Quéromès ◽  
Nicolas Guibert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Viral Load ◽  
Symptom Onset ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Respiratory Pathogens ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Front Line ◽  
Mild Form ◽  
Pcr Screening ◽  
Viral Culture

AbstractA comprehensive clinical and microbiological assessments of COVID-19 in front-line healthcare workers (HCWs) is needed. Between April 10th and May 28th, 2020, 319 HCWs with acute illness were reviewed. In addition to SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR screening, a multiplex molecular panel was used for testing other respiratory pathogens. For SARS-CoV-2 positive HCWs, the normalized viral load, viral culture, and virus neutralization assays were performed weekly. For SARS-CoV-2 negative HCWs, SARS-CoV-2 serological testing was performed one month after inclusion. Among the 319 HCWs included, 67 (21.0%) were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2; 65/67 (97.0%) developed mild form of COVID-19. Other respiratory pathogens were found in 6/66 (9.1%) SARS-CoV-2 positive and 47/241 (19.5%) SARS-Cov-2 negative HCWs (p = 0.07). The proportion of HCWs with a viral load > 5.0 log10 cp/mL (Ct value < 25) was less than 15% at 8 days after symptom onset; 12% of HCWs were positive after 40 days (Ct > 37). More than 90% of cultivable virus had a viral load > 4.5 log10 cp/mL (Ct < 26) and were collected within 10 days after symptom onset. Among negative HCWs, 6/190 (3.2%) seroconverted. Our data suggest that the determination of viral load can be used for appreciating the infectiousness of infected HCWs. These data could be helpful for facilitating their return to work.

scholarly journals Infectivity of healthcare workers diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) approximately 2 weeks after onset of symptoms: A cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Yves Longtin ◽  
Hugues Charest ◽  
Caroline Quach ◽  
Patrice Savard ◽  
Mariana Baz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Symptom Onset ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Positive Culture ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Viral Shedding ◽  
Viral Culture ◽  
Respiratory Coronavirus ◽  
Respiratory Specimens

Abstract We performed viral culture of respiratory specimens in 118 severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)–infected healthcare workers (HCWs), ∼2 weeks after symptom onset. Only 1 HCW (0.8%) had a positive culture. No factors for prolonged viral shedding were identified. Infectivity is resolved in nearly all HCWs ∼2 weeks after symptom onset.

scholarly journals Prolonged SARS-CoV-2-RNA Detection from Nasopharyngeal Swabs in an Oncologic Patient: What Impact on Cancer Treatment?

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 847-852
Author(s):  
Anna Ferrari ◽  
Marco Trevenzoli ◽  
Lolita Sasset ◽  
Elisabetta Di Liso ◽  
Toni Tavian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Palliative Radiotherapy ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
Global Challenge ◽  
Viral Culture ◽  
Pcr Assays

The pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 is a serious global challenge affecting millions of people worldwide. Cancer patients are at risk for infection exposure and serious complications. A prompt diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is crucial for the timely adoption of isolation measures and the appropriate management of cancer treatments. In lung cancer patients the symptoms of infection 19 may resemble those exhibited by the underlying oncologic condition, possibly leading to diagnostic overlap and delays. Moreover, cancer patients might display a prolonged positivity of nasopharyngeal RT-PCR assays for SARS-CoV-2, causing long interruptions or delay of cancer treatments. However, the association between the positivity of RT-PCR assays and the patient’s infectivity remains uncertain. We describe the case of a patient with non-small cell lung cancer, and a severe ab extrinseco compression of the trachea, whose palliative radiotherapy was delayed because of the prolonged positivity of nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2. The patient did not show clinical symptoms suggestive of active infection, but the persistent positivity of RT-PCR assays imposed the continuation of isolation measures and the delay of radiotherapy for over two months. Finally, the negative result of SARS-CoV-2 viral culture allowed us to verify the absence of viral activity and to rule out the infectivity of the patient, who could finally continue her cancer treatment.

scholarly journals Epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes of patients with COVID-19 at Thailand’s university-based referral hospital

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rujipas Sirijatuphat ◽  
Yupin Suputtamongkol ◽  
Nasikarn Angkasekwinai ◽  
Navin Horthongkham ◽  
Methee Chayakulkeeree ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Drug Regimen ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Antiviral Therapies ◽  
Outbreak Period ◽  
Siriraj Hospital ◽  
Antiviral Medications

Abstract Background The epidemiology and outcomes of COVID-19 patients in Thailand are scarce. Methods This retrospective cohort study included adult hospitalized patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 at Siriraj Hospital during February 2020 to April 2020. Results The prevalence of COVID-19 was 7.5% (107 COVID-19 patients) among 1409 patients who underwent RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 detection at our hospital during the outbreak period. Patients with COVID-19 presented with symptoms in 94.4%. Among the 104 patients who were treated with antiviral medications, 78 (75%) received 2-drug regimen (lopinavir/ritonavir or darunavir/ritonavir plus chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine), and 26 (25%) received a 3-drug regimen with favipiravir added to the 2-drug regimen. Disease progression was observed in 18 patients (16.8%). All patients with COVID-19 were discharged alive. Conclusions The prevalence of COVID-19 was 7.5% among patients who underwent RT-PCR testing, and 10% among those having risk factors for COVID-19 acquisition. Combination antiviral therapies for COVID-19 patients were well-tolerated and produced a favorable outcome.

scholarly journals Duration of Infectious Virus Shedding in Patients With Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 Who Required Mechanical Ventilation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshihito Nomura ◽  
Hiroki Kitagawa ◽  
Keitaro Omori ◽  
Norifumi Shigemoto ◽  
Masaki Kakimoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Symptom Onset ◽  
Infectious Virus ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Virus Shedding ◽  
Viral Culture ◽  
Respiratory Management

Abstract Approximately 5% of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 develop severe COVID-19. Severe COVID-19 requires respiratory management with mechanical ventilation and an extended period of treatment. Prolonged infectious virus shedding is a concern in severe COVID-19 cases, but few reports have examined the duration of infectious virus shedding. Therefore, we investigated the duration of infectious virus shedding in patients transferred to Hiroshima University Hospital with severe COVID-19 requiring mechanical ventilation. Nasopharyngeal swab specimens were collected and analyzed using both viral culture and reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) tests between December 2020 and February 2021. Of the 23 patients tested, the proportions of those with positive test results at first specimen collection on RT-qPCR and viral culture tests were 95·7% and 30·4%, respectively. All six patients with positive viral culture test results who were followed-up tested negative 24 days after symptom onset but remained positive on RT-qPCR. The longest negative conversion time was observed in a dialysis patient on immunosuppressive drugs. This study indicated that patients with severe COVID-19 remain culture positive for ≥ 10 days after symptom onset. Additionally, immunosuppressed patients with severe COVID-19 could consider isolation for ≥ 20 days.

Point-Of-Care Clinical Evaluation of the Clungene® SARS-CoV-2 Virus IgG/IgM 15-minute rapid test cassette with the Cobas® Roche RT-PCR platform in patients with or without Covid-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fadi Haddad ◽  
Christopher C Lamb ◽  
Ravina Kullar ◽  
George Sakoulas
Keyword(s):  
Symptom Onset ◽  
Serological Test ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Lateral Flow ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Lateral Flow Immunoassay ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Past Infection

Background: Covid-19 remains a pandemic with multiple challenges to confirm patient infectivity: lack of sufficient tests, accurate results, validated quality, and timeliness of results. We hypothesize that a rapid 15-minute Point-Of-Care serological test to evaluate past infection complements diagnostic testing for Covid-19 and significantly enhances testing availability. Method: A three arm observational study at Sharp Healthcare, San Diego, California was conducted using the Clungene® lateral flow immunoassay (LFI) and compared with the Cobas® Roche RT PCR results. Arm 1: Thirty-five (35) subjects with confirmed Covid-19 using RT-PCR were tested twice: prior to 14 days following symptom onset and once between 12 and 70 days. Arm 2: Thirty (30) subjects with confirmed Covid-19 using RT-PCR were tested 12-70 days post symptom onset. Arm 3: Thirty (30) subjects with a negative RT-PCR for Covid-19 were tested 1-10 days following the RT-PCR test date. Results: Specificity of confirmed negative Covid-19 by RT-PCR was 100% (95% CI, 88.4%-100.0%); meaning there was 100% negative positive agreement between the RT-PCR and the Clungene® serological test results. Covid-19 subjects tested prior to day 7 symptom onset were antibody negative. In subjects 7-12 days following symptom onset with a confirmed positive Covid-19 by RT-PCR, the combined sensitivity of IgM and IgG was 58.6% (95% CI, 38.9%-76.5%). In subjects 13-70 days following symptom onset with a confirmed positive Covid-19 by RT-PCR the combined sensitivity of IgM and IgG was 90.5% (95% CI, 80.4%-96.4%). Conclusion: The Clungene® lateral flow immunoassay (LFI) is a useful tool to confirm individuals with an adaptive immune response to SARS-CoV-2 indicating past infection. Providing Point-Of-Care results within 15 minutes without any laboratory instrumentation or specialized software has an added value of increasing test availability to patients who have been symptomatic for more than one week to confirm past infection. Performance characteristics are optimal after 13 days with a sensitivity and specificity of 90% and 100%, respectively.

Recent advances in the laboratory diagnosis of peste des petits ruminants

2021 ◽  
Vol 77 (05) ◽  
pp. 226-231
Author(s):  
WIESŁAW NIEDBALSKI ◽  
ANDRZEJ FITZNER ◽  
KRZYSZTOF BULENGER ◽  
ANDRZEJ KĘSY
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Clinical Diagnostics ◽  
Molecular Diagnostic ◽  
Molecular Diagnostic Techniques ◽  
Peste Des Petits Ruminants ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Agar Gel

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious and economically important, viral disease of small ruminants caused by the peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV), which belongs to the genus Morbilivirus in the family Paramyxoviridae. PPR control is achieved mostly through vaccination and/or slaughter of susceptible animals coupled with clinical or laboratory-based diagnosis. Since clinical signs of PPR are not disease-specific and clinical diagnostics is not reliable, it should be confirmed by laboratory testing. Laboratory confirmation of clinical suspicions is made by detection of PPRV in blood, swabs or post-mortem tissues through classical virus isolation (VI), agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID)/agar gel precipitation test (AGPT), counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIE), immunoperoxidase test (IPT) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assays. However, these conventional methods have been superseded by more rapid, sensitive and accurate molecular diagnostic techniques based on the amplification of parts of either nucleocapsid (N) or fusion (F) protein gene, such as RT-PCR, real-time RT-PCR, reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP), reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) and Oxford nanopore MinION technology. Although these molecular diagnostic assays are accurate, rapid and sensitive, they have to be performed in laboratory settings, and samples must be transported under appropriate conditions from the field to the laboratory, which can delay the confirmation of PPRV infection. The recently developed immunochromatographic lateral flow device (IC-LFD) assay can be used in the field (“pen-side”) without the need for expensive equipment, so a well-established laboratory is not required. The control and eventual eradication of PPR is now one of the top priorities for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). In 2015, the international community agreed on a global strategy for PPR eradication, setting 2030 as a target date for elimination of the disease

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction/Probe Test of Serum Samples and Immunohistochemistry of Skin Sections for Detection of Acute Bovine Viral Diarrhea Infections

2002 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 303-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia F. Ridpath ◽  
Sharon K. Hietala ◽  
Steve Sorden ◽  
John D. Neill
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction Amplification ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Bovine Viral Diarrhea ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Viral Diarrhea ◽  
Persistent Infections ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Bovine viral diarrhea viruses (BVDV) cause both acute and persistent infections. While diagnostic tests have been designed to detect animals persistently infected (PI) with BVDV, the reliability of these tests in detecting acute BVDV infections is not known. It is also possible that acute BVDV infections may be confused with persistent infections in surveys for PI animals. In this study, 2 tests presently in use in diagnostic laboratories to test for PI animals, polymerase chain reaction amplification followed by probe hybridization (RT-PCR/probe) of serum samples and immunohistochemical detection of viral antigen in skin biopsies (IHC), were evaluated for their ability to detect acute BVDV infections. Sixteen colostrum-deprived, BVDV-free, and BVDV-antibody-free calves were infected with 6 different BVDV strains. Clinical signs, seroconversion, and virus isolation indicated that inoculated animals did replicate virus. Virus could be detected in 19% (3/16) of acutely infected animals by the RT-PCR/probe technique. No acutely infected animals were positive by IHC.

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