Open AccessSARS-CoV-2 Clinical Characteristics and Viral Shedding in Kuwait
Author(s) -
Alghounaim Mohammad,
Caya Chelsea,
Alothman Khalid,
Alhasawi Almonther,
Papenburg Jesse
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
medical principles and practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1423-0151
pISSN - 1011-7571
DOI - 10.1159/000521408
Subject(s) - brief report
Objectives: We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection and estimate viral shedding duration in respiratory specimens. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed from February 25 to March 25, 2020. In Kuwait, all suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, contacts of cases, and returning travelers were systematically tested for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR. All infected persons, regardless of symptoms, were hospitalized and serially tested until they had two negative results. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were performed. Results: Two hundred seven cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were included in this study. About half of the cases were asymptomatic and 1.9% died. The median time to negative RT-PCR was 22 days. Increasing age, ARDS, and low peripheral white blood cell count were associated with prolonged PCR positivity. Conclusion: Predictors for prolonged RT-PCR positivity included increasing age, ARDS, and low white blood cell count. The findings of this study may aid in better understanding of the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection and molecular testing dynamics.