Clinical characteristics and histopathology of COVID-19 related deaths in South African adults

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262179
• Publication Date: 2022-01-20T18:36:11Z
• Authors: Marta C. Nunes; Martin J. Hale; Sana Mahtab; Fikile C. Mabena; Noluthando Dludlu; Vicky L. Baillie; Bukiwe N. Thwala; Toyah Els; Jeanine du Plessis; Marius Laubscher; Shakeel Mckenzie; Sihle Mtshali; Colin Menezes; Natali Serafin; Sarah van Blydens...; Merika Tsitsi; Brian Dulisse; Shabir A. Madhi
• Keywords: Histopathology; Coronavirus

Comparisons of histopathological features and microbiological findings between decedents with respiratory symptoms due to SARS-CoV-2 infection or other causes, in settings high prevalence HIV Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infections have not been reported. Deaths associated a positive ante-mortem PCR test and/or disease at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital Soweto, South Africa from 15th April 2nd November 2020, during the first wave African COVID-19 epidemic, were investigated. Deceased adult patients had post-mortem minimally-invasive tissue sampling (MITS) performed investigate for molecular detection putative pathogens on blood lung samples, histopathology examination lung, liver heart tissue. During study period MITS done displaying including 75 COVID-19-related deaths (COVID+) 42 non-COVID-19-related (COVID-). The HIV-infection was lower COVID+ (27%) than COVID- (64%), MTB also less common among (3% vs 13%). Lung showed differences severity morphological appearance Type-II pneumocytes, alveolar injury repair initiated by infection. In necrotising granulomatous inflammation more COVID+. No found analyses. bacterial co-infections higher Most indicators distress syndrome undifferentiated except pneumocytes. does appear these data meaningful correspondence COVID-related deaths.