Overall decrease in SARS-CoV-2 viral load and reduction in clinical burden: the experience of a hospital in northern Italy

• DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2020.10.006
• Publication Date: 2020-10-12T05:48:06Z
• Authors: Chiara Piubelli; Michela Deiana; Elena Pomari; Ronaldo Silva; Zeno Bisoffi; Fabio Formenti; Francesca Perandin; Federico Gobbi; Dora Buonfrate
• Keywords: Microbiology (medical); Male; COVID-19; Coronavirus; Coronavirus disease 2019; SARS-CoV-2; Viral load.; Severity of Illness Index; 03 medical and health sciences; COVID-19 Testing; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Pandemics; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; General Medicine; Middle Aged; Viral Load; COVID-19, Coronavirus, Coronavirus disease 2019, SARS-CoV-2, Viral load; Hospitals; 3. Good health; Research Note; Intensive Care Units; Infectious Diseases; Italy; Female; Emergency Service, Hospital

ObjectivesIn Italy the burden of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) gradually decreased from March to end May. In this work we aimed evaluate a possible association between severity clinical manifestations and viral load over time during epidemiological transition high-to low-transmission settings.MethodsWe reviewed cases COVID-19 diagnosed at emergency room our hospital, retrieving proportion admitted intensive care unit. A raw estimation was done evaluating Ct (cycle threshold) trend obtained diagnostic reverse transcriptase real-time PCR test.ResultsThe requiring significantly 6.7% (19/281) in 1.1% (1/86) April, none May (Fisher's test p 0.0067). As for load, observed increasing median value 24 (IQR 19–29) 34 29–37) May, statistically significant difference April (pairwise Wilcoxon stepdown Bonferroni adjustment multiple testing, 0.0003).ConclusionsWe reduction care, along decreasing values load. context changes settings, people are presumably exposed lower which has been previously associated less severe manifestations.