Correlation of Conjunctival Swab PCR Positivity with Nasopharyngeal Swab PCR Positivity in COVID-19 Patients COVİD-19 Hastalarında Nazofariengeal Sürüntü PCR Pozitifliğinin Konjonktival Sürüntü PCR Pozitifliği ile Korelasyonu
Medical Journal of Bakirkoy, cilt.20, sa.1, ss.28-34, 2024 (ESCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 20 Sayı: 1
- Basım Tarihi: 2024
- Doi Numarası: 10.4274/bmj.galenos.2023.2022.6-1
- Dergi Adı: Medical Journal of Bakirkoy
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.28-34
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Conjunctival swab, COVID-19, nasopharyngeal swab, RT-PCR, SARS-CoV-2
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Objective: To evaluate the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the tear and conjunctival secretions of laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients. Methods: A total of 152 consecutive COVID-19 patients, confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test in nasopharyngeal swabs, were included. The conjunctival swabs were taken from both eyes by the same ophthalmologist in the first 24-36 hours after positive test results for COVID-19 in the nasopharyngeal swabs were detected. Results: Of the 152 patients, 96 (63.15%) were male and 56 (36.85%) were female. The mean age was 39.36±13.15 years. Sixteen (10.5%) patients had symptoms or findings such as tearing, stinging, redness, pain, and burning in their eyes. RT-PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in conjunctival swabs were positive in 13 (8.55%) of 152 COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: This study showed that SARS-CoV-2 may be found in the conjunctival swabs of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients, and ocular secretions may be a possible route for virus transmission.