Detection of Novel Coronavirus by RT-PCR in Stool Specimen from Asymptomatic Child, China

Neurologic manifestations of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infection have received wide attention, but the mechanisms remain uncertain. Here, we describe computational data from public domain RNA-seq datasets and cerebrospinal fluid data from adult patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia that suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection of the central nervous system is unlikely. We found that the mRNAs encoding the ACE2 receptor and the TMPRSS2 transmembrane serine protease, both of which are required for viral entry into host cells, are minimally expressed in the major cell types of the brain. In addition, CSF samples from 13 adult encephalopathic COVID-19 patients diagnosed with the viral infection via nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR did not show evidence for the virus. This particular finding is robust for two reasons. First, the RT-PCR diagnostic was validated for CSF studies using stringent criteria; and second, 61% of these patients had CSF testing within 1 week of a positive nasopharyngeal diagnostic test. We propose that neurologic sequelae of COVID-19 are not due to SARS-CoV-2 meningoencephalitis and that other etiologies are more likely mechanisms.

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A Case Series of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR-Positive Hospitalized Infants 60 Days of Age or Younger From 2 New York City Pediatric Emergency Departments

Clinical Pediatrics ◽

10.1177/00099228211006688 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 60 (4-5) ◽

pp. 247-251

Author(s):

Ameer Hassoun ◽

Nessy Dahan ◽

Christopher Kelly

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Case Reports ◽

Severe Disease ◽

Case Series ◽

Pediatric Emergency ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Vulnerable Group ◽

Mild Disease ◽

Young Infants ◽

Novel Coronavirus

The emergence of novel coronavirus disease-2019 poses an unprecedented challenge to pediatricians. While the majority of children experience mild disease, initial case reports on young infants are conflicting. We present a case series of 8 hospitalized infants 60 days of age or younger with coronavirus disease-2019. A quarter of these patients had coinfections (viral or bacterial). None of these infants had severe disease. Continued vigilance in testing this vulnerable group of infants is warranted.

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ESTIMATION OF SARS-COV-2 SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES SEROPREVALENCE IN HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN DISTRICT UDAIPUR, INDIA

10.36106/ijar/8102221 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 61-63

Author(s):

Shelesh Kumar Swami ◽

Nitesh Kumar Chauhan ◽

Shuchi Goyal ◽

A.K. Verma ◽

Shweta Biyani

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Workers ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Control Measures ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

High Seroprevalence ◽

Know How ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

And Control ◽

Infection Eradication ◽

Cumulative Prevalence

Background:Current pandemic caused by Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) causes clinical symptoms from fever to acute respiratory distress syndrome but may remain mild or asymptomatic. To evaluate the cumulative prevalence of SARSCoV-2 infection in a community and know how immune response develops in the population, reliable assay alongwith RT-PCR for detection of SARS-CoV 2 antibodies is needed. Healthcare workers (HCWs) represent a high-risk populat - ion for infection with SARS-CoV-2. Methods: We evaluated total antibodies recognizing the SARS CoV 2 receptor binding domain (S1-RBD) - - - or the Spike protein over a period of six months in a total of 310 healthcare workers engaged in hospital using SARS-CoV-2 Total antibody assay kit. Findings: The overall seroprevalence found in our analysis was 41.93%. In case of males the percentage positive was found to be signicantly higher at 43.91%, compared to females at 36.25%. Seroprevalence was signicantly higher in 50 years above age group in comparison to 20-50 years old aged healthcare workers. The seroprevalence was higher in doctors, nursing staff and lab technicians than other healthcare professionals as 44.6%. Conclusions: This study showed high seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers which means remaining proportion of the healthcare workers are still susceptible to the infection. Good compliance to infection eradication and control measures, adequate PPEs, and early detection and isolation of healthcare workers infected with SARS-CoV-2 are mandatory to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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Screening and managing of suspected or confirmed novel coronavirus (COVID-19) patients: experiences from a tertiary hospital outside Hubei province

10.1101/2020.03.20.20038679 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hong Pu ◽

Yujun Xu ◽

Gordon S. Doig ◽

Yan Zhou

Keyword(s):

Health Education ◽

Emergency Response ◽

Healthcare Team ◽

Personnel Training ◽

Materials Management ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Team Members ◽

Specific Protocol ◽

Medical Materials ◽

Novel Coronavirus

ABSTRACTObjectivesTo report our experiences screening and managing patients with suspected or confirmed novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease using a hospital-specific protocol.DesignLongitudinal cohort study.SettingA 1,200 bed tertiary care teaching hospital in Chengdu, Sichuan, China.Participants802 adults presenting to hospital with concerns of having COVID-19, 1,246 inpatients and 2,531 hospital visitors.InterventionsScreening and management of patients using a hospital-specific protocol, which included fever triage, monitoring visitors and patients, emergency response, personnel training for healthcare team members, health education for patients and family, medical materials management, disinfection and wastes disposal protocols.ResultsBetween 23 January and 28 February 2020, 73 people were identified as having fever plus respiratory signs with/without a history of exposure and were tested for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by our hospital lab using RT PCR. Forty-five of these 73 people were subsequently excluded based on one negative RT PCR result plus positive results to quick screening tests for flu or other respiratory viruses. The remaining 28 people received a second RT PCR test 24 h later. Three people were confirmed positive for COVID-19 based on two consecutive positive RT PCR tests whilst 25 people were excluded based on two consecutive negative tests. The three COVID-19 confirmed cases received non-critical care. There were no new infections of medical staff or new infections of other hospital inpatients.ConclusionsA hospital-specific protocol for screening and management is necessary for reliably identifying suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients during an outbreak. All three cases were detected as a result of vigilant monitoring of hospital visitors. Whilst screening out-patients presenting to a fever clinic remains important, monitoring visitors must not be overlooked.Strengths and limitations of this study►We report a hospital-specific protocol used to screen and manage people presenting to our hospital fever clinic, inpatients and visitors during an outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia in Chengdu, Sichuan province.►Key components of the protocol included: a three-level fever triage process; monitoring visitors and inpatients, formation of an emergency response team for COVID-19, personnel training for healthcare team members, health education for patients and family, medical materials management, and disinfection and wastes disposal protocols.►The ability to test nucleic acid of SARS-CoV-2 using RT PCR in the hospital greatly shortened the time from the detection of patients to diagnosis, and was beneficial to the control of the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2.►Although our process detected few patients, comparison with other processes, when they are published, will allow the identification of the optimal approach for screening and management.►We suggest that if all resources had been focused on screening people through our fever clinic, we would have missed important in-hospital risks of transmitting COVID-19: The detection of a hospital visitor with COVID-19 led to the detection of an inpatient with COVID-19.

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Cases Report of Cured Novel Coronavirus-infected Pneumonia Patients with Viral Nucleic Acid Test Positive in Fecal Specimens

10.21203/rs.3.rs-20799/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mei Han ◽

Jingbo Zou ◽

Wenguang Tian ◽

Xiaoyu Wei ◽

Yang Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nucleic Acid ◽

Molecular Diagnostic ◽

Clinical Practices ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Viral Nucleic Acid ◽

Nucleic Acid Test ◽

Assessment Standard ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

Acid Test ◽

Respiratory Specimens

Abstract Background: The outbreak of the novel coronavirus in China (COVID-19) represents a significant and urgent threat to global health. We report here five cases of COVID-19 infection patients in our clinical practices who are medically stable and presumed to successfully “cleared” the virus after antiviral treatments. Case presentation: The clinical evaluation depends on the viral nucleic acid test in respiratory specimens by real-time PCR reverse transcription (RT-PCR) assays according to the authorized guidance. We found that the stool samples of these cured patients remain positive in RT-PCR assay while the virus is undetectable in respiratory specimens. RT-PCR molecular diagnostic assay was designed to specifically detect the presence of viral RNA. Thus, the positive result in the fecal specimens implies the existence of viable virions with the patients. Conclusions: This highlights the importance to look closely at the assessment standard of medical treatment, as well as the need for reevaluation of the criteria for the initial screening, prevention, and care of patients with this emerging infection.

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SARS-CoV-2: preliminary study of infected human nasopharyngeal tissue by high resolution microscopy

Virology Journal ◽

10.1186/s12985-021-01620-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Brian Mondeja ◽

Odalys Valdes ◽

Sonia Resik ◽

Ananayla Vizcaino ◽

Emilio Acosta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Control Sample ◽

Negative Control ◽

High Rate ◽

Apical Region ◽

The Novel ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Crown Shape ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

High Resolution Microscopy

Abstract Background The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is the etiological agent of COVID-19. This virus has become one of the most dangerous in recent times with a very high rate of transmission. At present, several publications show the typical crown-shape of the novel coronavirus grown in cell cultures. However, an integral ultramicroscopy study done directly from clinical specimens has not been published. Methods Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 12 Cuban individuals, six asymptomatic and RT-PCR negative (negative control) and six others from a COVID-19 symptomatic and RT-PCR positive for SARS CoV-2. Samples were treated with an aldehyde solution and processed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal microscopy (CM) and, atomic force microscopy. Improvement and segmentation of coronavirus images were performed by a novel mathematical image enhancement algorithm. Results The images of the negative control sample showed the characteristic healthy microvilli morphology at the apical region of the nasal epithelial cells. As expected, they do not display virus-like structures. The images of the positive sample showed characteristic coronavirus-like particles and evident destruction of microvilli. In some regions, virions budding through the cell membrane were observed. Microvilli destruction could explain the anosmia reported by some patients. Virus-particles emerging from the cell-surface with a variable size ranging from 80 to 400 nm were observed by SEM. Viral antigen was identified in the apical cells zone by CM. Conclusions The integral microscopy study showed that SARS-CoV-2 has a similar image to SARS-CoV. The application of several high-resolution microscopy techniques to nasopharyngeal samples awaits future use.

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No evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome in five Italian hospitals from 1st November 2019 to 29th February 2020

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0260947 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (12) ◽

pp. e0260947

Author(s):

Donatella Panatto ◽

Andrea Orsi ◽

Beatrice Marina Pennati ◽

Piero Luigi Lai ◽

Stefano Mosca ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phase I ◽

Influenza A ◽

Hospitalized Patients ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Influenza B ◽

Molecular Testing ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

The Real ◽

Severe Acute Respiratory Infection ◽

Novel Coronavirus

Background On 9th January 2020, China CDC reported a novel coronavirus (later named SARS-CoV-2) as the causative agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Identifying the first appearance of virus is of epidemiological importance to tracking and mapping the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in a country. We therefore conducted a retrospective observational study to detect SARS-CoV-2 in oropharyngeal samples collected from hospitalized patients with a Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) enrolled in the DRIVE (Development of Robust and Innovative Vaccine Effectiveness) study in five Italian hospitals (CIRI-IT BIVE hospitals network) (1st November 2019 – 29th February 2020). Objectives To acquire new information on the real trend in SARS-CoV-2 infection during pandemic phase I and to determine the possible early appearance of the virus in Italy. Materials and methods Samples were tested for influenza [RT-PCR assay (A/H1N1, A/H3N2, B/Yam, B/Vic)] in accordance with the DRIVE study protocol. Subsequently, swabs underwent molecular testing for SARS-COV-2. [one-step real-time multiplex retro-transcription (RT) PCR]. Results In the 1683 samples collected, no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 was found. Moreover, 28.3% (477/1683) of swabs were positive for influenza viruses, the majority being type A (358 vs 119 type B). A/H3N2 was predominant among influenza A viruses (55%); among influenza B viruses, B/Victoria was prevalent. The highest influenza incidence rate was reported in patients aged 0–17 years (40.3%) followed by those aged 18–64 years (24.4%) and ≥65 years (14.8%). Conclusions In Italy, some studies have shown the early circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in northern regions, those most severely affected during phase I of the pandemic. In central and southern regions, by contrast no early circulation of the virus was registered. These results are in line with ours. These findings highlight the need to continue to carry out retrospective studies, in order to understand the epidemiology of the novel coronavirus, to better identify the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in comparison with other acute respiratory illnesses (ARI), and to evaluate the real burden of COVID-19 on the healthcare system.

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A clinical, laboratory, radiological, and microbiologicalstudy of pneumonia associated with covid-19 indicating person-to-person transmission

International Journal of Development Research ◽

10.37118/ijdr.20817.01.2021 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 43832-43834

Keyword(s):

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Respiratory Tract ◽

Lower Respiratory Tract ◽

Clinical Laboratory ◽

Family Members ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Geographical Regions ◽

The Family ◽

Nextgeneration Sequencing ◽

Novel Coronavirus

Background: Novel coronavirus outbreak that originated in Wuhan, province of China has now been declared as one of the deadliest pandemics inflicting humankind in last hundred years. Method: In the present study, we have inferred the clinical, laboratory, radiological, and microbiological findings of five patients in a family cluster who presented with unexplained pneumonia after coming back from overseas and touchdown right here in India on 1st March 2020 earlier than lockdown and another member of the family who didn’tvisit thiscountry. Results: From March 10, 2020, we enrolled a family of six patients who travelled to SingaporeonJanuary 10th 2020and returned on March 1st 2020. Of six family members who travelled to Singapore, five were recognised as affected with the radical coronavirus (COVID 19). Additionally, one family member, who did not travel to overseas also became infected with the virus post14 days of staying with four of the family members. Five family members (aged 30–55 years) presented with symptoms like fever, upper or lower respiratory tract symptoms, or diarrhoea, or a combination of these 3–6 days after exposure. Phylogenetic evaluation of these five subjects’ RT-PCR amplicons and two full genomes by nextgeneration sequencing presented that this is a novel coronavirus, which is closest to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-related coronaviruses. Conclusion: Our findings are steady with person-to-person transmission of this novel coronavirus in hospital (nosocomial) and family settings, and the reports of infected travellers in other geographical regions.

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Clinical course and characteristics of patients with 2019 novel coronavirus disease in Wuhan, China: a single-centered, retrospective, observational study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-26427/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

YANFANG LIU ◽

LINA LIU ◽

YE WANG ◽

XINYANG DU ◽

HONG MA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Clinical Course ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Laboratory Examination ◽

Pcr Assay ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

Diagnosis Criteria ◽

Supplement Therapy ◽

Positive Results

Abstract BackgroundCOVID-19 associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection is of outbreak worldwide. This project aimed to provide clinical features, treatment advice and risk factors of patients diagnosed with COVID-19.MethodsIn this study, we analyzed 109 patients with confirmed COVID-19. We compared the relevant data of patients over 60 years old and under 60 years old, analyzed the data of patients with chronic diseases, and clarified the importance of the combination of laboratory examination and CT diagnosis.ResultsMost of patients 59(54.1%) had no fever. 100(91.7%) of patients required supplemental O2, and their SpO2 values reached normal after oxygen therapy. 72 (66.1%) patients were over 60 years old, and they were more likely to develop respiratory symptoms. Among all patients, only 14 (12.8%) patients were positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody, SARS-COV-2 RT-PCR assay and CT diagnosis.Conclusion(1) O2 supplement therapy plays an important role in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.(2) People over 60 years old or(and) having chronic diseases are risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 infection.(3) Most patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 have no fever symptoms.(4) We recommend that CT positive results be included in the confirmed diagnosis criteria, which is important for the diagnosis of COVID-19.

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