scholarly journals Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Re-Detected on PCR Test after Discharge from Isolation

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 954-960
Author(s):  
Abdullah J. Alsahafi ◽  
Manal M. Al Daajani ◽  
Ahmed A. Osman ◽  
Abdulhamed L. Moawwad ◽  
Abdullah M. Algarni ◽  
...  

There have been multiple reports of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) after discharge; however, information on the characteristics of such cases is limited. In this case report, we aimed to identify clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients who had a repeat positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for SARS-CoV-2. We analyzed data of 22 COVID-19 patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing after two consecutive negative PCR results following discharge from hospitals. The interval between the two positive tests in the episodes of COVID-19 ranged from 4 to 117 days. More than one-third of the cases were healthcare workers (HCWs) and one-third of them had comorbidities. The main symptoms were cough and fever, and we noticed that males experienced more symptoms and signs of COVID-19 than females. Individuals with repeat SARS-CoV-2 positivity tend to experience milder illness during the second episode than the first episode. To confirm the reinfection of SARS-CoV-2, the results of other tests, such as viral culture and immunological assays of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM), need to be considered. Recovered COVID-19 patients should continue social distancing, using face masks, and practicing hand hygiene, especially HCWs who are more likely to be exposed to SARS-CoV-2.

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. e1-e5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glenn Patriquin ◽  
Jill Hatchette ◽  
Kevin Forward

INTRODUCTION: Clinical and laboratory features of enteroviral meningitis may overlap with those of bacterial meningitis. In the present retrospective review, we compared features of enteroviral (EV)-positive and -negative patients to determine those that were most influential in admission, discharge and in anti-infective administration.METHODS: Data were analyzed from the records of 117 pediatric and adult patients who underwent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) EV testing over a three-year period.RESULTS: The oldest EV-positive patient was 34 years of age and the occurrence of the disease was highly seasonal. EV-positive patients were more likely to report fever, rash, photophobia, short onset and exposure to an ill contact. A positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result was associated with relatively short hospitalization. Seizure and neurological symptoms were more strongly associated with a negative PCR test result. CSF characteristics did not discriminate well between patients with positive and negative PCR tests. Patients with imperfect Glasgow Coma Scores or with neurological symptoms were more likely to be admitted to hospital than those without. Fever and recent onset predicted determinants of anti-infective use.CONCLUSION: The present retrospective study confirms previous reports regarding seasonality and the young age of positive patients. Factors that indicate nonenteroviral etiology were appropriately also those that influenced hospitalization. Patients with EV meningitis were likely to be treated with empirical anti-infectives, and a substantial proportion continued to take antibiotics for more than 24 h after receiving the positive EV PCR test result.


2003 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 97-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvana Varella Parmigiani ◽  
Ricardo Barini ◽  
Sandra Cecília Botelho Costa ◽  
Eliana Amaral ◽  
José Carlos Gama da Silva ◽  
...  

CONTEXT: The most frequently used methods for detecting antibodies are the indirect immunofluorescence test and the enzymatic immunoassay (ELISA). The polymerase chain reaction is a molecular biology technique in which the production of large amounts of specific DNA fragments is induced from very low concentrations of complex substrates aloowing the detection of very low amounts of viral particles. OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of serological/ELISA tests in comparison with the polymerase chain reaction in maternal blood to diagnose cytomegalovirus infection. DESIGN: A descriptive study was performed. SETTING: High-risk outpatient clinic of Campinas University (Unicamp). PARTICIPANTS: We selected 243 pregnant women. All of them had been indicated for blood sampling because of suspicions of cytomegalovirus infection and also because of other infections. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: The group was tested for cytomegalovirus. Serological tests were run and compared to the polymerase chain reaction, which was considered to be the gold standard. Status analyses were done using Fisher's exact test, via the SAS software. RESULTS: The previous cytomegalovirus infection rate was 94.6%. The main reasons for inclusion in the study were fetal nervous system malformation (25.5%), maternal toxoplasmosis (25.5%) and Rh isoimmunization (14.8%). Only two women were included because of positive serological immunoglobulin M test for cytomegalovirus. The sensitivity and specificity of the serological tests were 94% and 6% for immunoglobulin G. CONCLUSION: Serological tests had lower sensitivity in comparison with the polymerase chain reaction test when diagnosing cytomegalovirus infection. The consequences of positive polymerase chain reaction and negative immunoglobulin M in women remain unknown.


2021 ◽  
pp. 003022282110598
Author(s):  
Hümeyra Aslaner ◽  
Betül Özen ◽  
Zeliha K. Erten ◽  
Mebrure Beyza Gökçek

Urgent measures were taken for those at the age of 65 and over who were at the risk group all over the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is known that many individuals at the age of 65 and over have experienced anxiety due to the uncertainties. This study aimed to determine the anxiety and death anxiety in individuals aged 65 and over who were isolation at home due to being diagnosed with COVID-19 or being in contact during the pandemic process. The study is descriptive and cross-sectional. It was performed with 656 home-quarantined individuals aged between 65–80 years with positive or negative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result. A form including questions about the death anxiety and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale Short Form prepared by the researchers were administered to the individuals by phone call. Of the participants, 49.5% were male. Median COVID-19 anxiety score was 4 (0–18). Anxiety scores of the male and female participants were similar. Participants with negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results and those with death anxiety had higher COVID anxiety scores. Death anxiety has increased by 1.661 times in male gender, 1.983 times in RT-PCR positivity and 0.146 times in the presence of symptoms. Individuals with positive COVID-19 test results or those aged 65 and over who had death anxiety and negative COVID-19 test result but who were in home-isolation due to being a contact had higher anxiety score. For this reason, those with death anxiety can be supported in line with their religious beliefs to reduce anxiety. Those with negative PCR test results in quarantine can be adequately informed about the COVID-19.


Author(s):  
Wan Huang ◽  
Jisheng Zhang ◽  
Lingyi Zeng ◽  
Chengru Yang ◽  
Lining Yin ◽  
...  

BackgroundThis study aimed to determine the molecular characteristics of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) isolates in a hospital in western Chongqing, southwestern China.MethodsA total of 127 unique CRKP isolates were collected from the Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, identified using a VITEK-2 compact system, and subjected to microbroth dilution to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration. Enterobacteriaceae intergenic repeat consensus polymerase chain reaction and multilocus sequence typing were used to analyze the homology among the isolates. Genetic information, including resistance and virulence genes, was assessed using polymerase chain reaction. The genomic features of the CRKP carrying gene blaKPC-2 were detected using whole-genome sequencing.ResultsST11 was the dominant sequence type in the homology comparison. The resistance rate to ceftazidime-avibactam in children was much higher than that in adults as was the detection rate of the resistance gene blaNDM (p < 0.0001). Virulence genes such as mrkD (97.6%), uge (96.9%), kpn (96.9%), and fim-H (84.3%) had high detection rates. IncF (57.5%) was the major replicon plasmid detected, and sequencing showed that the CRKP063 genome contained two plasmids. The plasmid carrying blaKPC-2, which mediates carbapenem resistance, was located on the 359,625 base pair plasmid IncFII, together with virulence factors, plasmid replication protein (rep B), stabilizing protein (par A), and type IV secretion system (T4SS) proteins that mediate plasmid conjugation transfer.ConclusionOur study aids in understanding the prevalence of CRKP in this hospital and the significant differences between children and adults, thus providing new ideas for clinical empirical use of antibiotics.


2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 101
Author(s):  
Gh. K. A. Al-kuzaay ◽  
Q. H. Kshash

This study was conducted for exam 348 milk samples from (clinically mastitic and other healthy cows) in many areas in AL-Diwanyia province by using CMT and bacteriological testing , which appeared that (64.9%) as percentage of mastitis ( clinically 15.9% , subclinically 84.0% ) Streptococcus agalactiae mastitis 13.2% ( 26.6% clinically , 73.3 % subclinicaly) diagnose by PCR assay by using specific primer (16SrRNA). Streptococcus agalactiae (30 isolates) after classical methods applied for streptococcus agalactiae identification (86 isolates).


2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-8
Author(s):  
Bashar Sadeq Noomy

      The aim of this study is to determine the sensitivity of bacterial culture technique in the detection of Brucella abortus in milk samples of aborted cows. Sixty samples of milk were collected from aborted cows during a period which did not exceed two months after the abortion. All of them were positive for rose bengal test. Results showed that Brucella abortus was isolated from 7 out of 60 (11.6%) from the milk of aborted cows, while PCR test showed that 32 out of 60 (53.3%) milk sample contained Brucella abortus. The specificity of culture techniques was 10%, but its sensitivity was only 21.8%. Beside the cautions in dealing with live Brucella abortus (as culture), it is also less sensitive than PCR, though it is better to use PCR technique in the diagnosis of brucellosis in aborted cows milk.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Blessen George ◽  
James McGee ◽  
Eileen Giangrasso ◽  
Sheila Finkelstein ◽  
Susan Wu ◽  
...  

Abstract Utilizing results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and subsequent antibody titers, we report on the test characteristics of a PCR screening test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 among hospital workers. The PCR test was found to be 87% sensitive and 97% specific, with a positive predictive value of 0.98 and a negative predictive value of 0.80.


1998 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 224-229
Author(s):  
C. H. Livengood III ◽  
K. A. Boggess ◽  
J. W. Wrenn ◽  
A. P. Murtha

Objectives:To examine the accuracy of a commercial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test (Amplicor CTR, Roche Diagnostic Systems, Branchburg NJ) for identification of endocervical chlamydial infections through both laboratory evaluation and among a diverse teaching hospital patient population.Methods:Testing of reliable threshold inocula and reproducibility were carried out using laboratory stock organisms. Paired endocervical samples from patients with a wide range of indications were tested by PCR and an established culture procedure, and discrepant pairs were further analyzed to determine true results.Results:Laboratory evaluation suggested that one copy of target DNA from a viable organism consistently yielded a positive result, and test reproducibility was very good, with an overall coefficient of variation of 15%. Compared to true results in 1,588 paired clinical samples from 1,489 women with a 10% prevalence of infection, the PCR test and culture yielded respective sensitivities of 87.4% and 78.0%, and negative predictive values of 98.6% and 97.6%. Specificity and positive predictive value for both tests were 100%. Cost per specimen was nearly identical at $18.84 and $18.88 respectively. Polymerase inhibitors and organisms lacking target DNA were not found in false-negative PCR samples.Conclusion:This commercial PCR test is accurate, cost-competitive, and much faster than culture for diagnosis of endocervical chlamydia infections in our population of intermediate prevalence of chlamydial infection.


Author(s):  
Arghadip Samaddar ◽  
Ravisekhar Gadepalli ◽  
Vijaya Lakshmi Nag ◽  
Sanjeev Misra ◽  
Pankaj Bhardwaj ◽  
...  

Abstract We studied the pattern and duration of viral RNA shedding in 32 asymptomatic and 11 pauci-symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. Viral RNA shedding in exhaled breath progressively diminished and became negative after six days of a positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. Therefore, the duration of isolation can be minimised to six days.


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