SARS‐CoV‐2 viral load in nasopharyngeal swabs in the emergency department does not predict COVID‐19 severity and mortality

• DOI: 10.1111/acem.14217
• Publication Date: 2021-01-23T02:14:57Z
• Authors: Pierrick Le Borgne; Morgane Solis; François Severac; Hamid Merdji; Yvon Ruch; Karine Alamé Intern; Eric Bayle; Yves Hansmann; Pascal Bilbault; Samira Fafi‐Kremer; Ferhat Meziani
• Keywords: Interquartile range; Viral Pneumonia

Abstract Introduction The ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic has led to devastating repercussions on health care systems worldwide. This viral infection a broad clinical spectrum (ranging from influenza‐like disease, pneumonia, and hypoxemia acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring prolonged intensive unit stays). prognostic impact of measuring load nasopharyngeal swab specimens (by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction [RT‐PCR]) is yet be elucidated. Methods Between March 3 April 5, 2020, we conducted retrospective study cohort patients (mild or severe disease) who were hospitalized after presenting the emergency department (ED) had at least one positive during their hospital stay. We our University Hospitals Strasbourg in Greater East region France, pandemic's epicenters Europe. Results have collected samples 287 with confirmed diagnosis included study. Nearly half them (50.5%) presented mild form while other (49.5%) form, mechanical ventilation. Median (interquartile range) initial upper admission was 4.76 (3.29–6.06) log 10 copies/reaction. When comparing survivors nonsurvivors, this measurement did not differ according subgroups (p = 0.332). Additionally, found that predictive neither in‐hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.85 1.31, p 0.637) nor disease severity (AOR 0.88, CI 0.73 1.06, 0.167). Conclusion Respiratory first RT‐PCR) ED management predictor SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Host response along extent preexisting comorbidities might more foretelling than virus itself.