Para-aortic lymphadenopathy associated with adult COVID-19 multisystem inflammatory syndrome

A 21-year-old woman arrived at the emergency department with dyspnoea, arterial hypotension and abdominal pain after 5 days with a influenza-like syndrome. SARS-CoV-2 was detected by reverse transcription PCR in a nasopharyngeal swab specimen. CT of the chest and abdomen with contrast demonstrated a minimal amount of free intraperitoneal fluid, gallbladder with wall oedema, multiple para-aortic lymph node and interlobular septal thickening with ground glass opacities on the lungs. No pleural effusion or thromboembolism. Early broad-spectrum antibiotics, high-flow nasal cannula and norepinephrine were started. She was successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and pulse corticosteroid therapy with methylprednisolone. The patient was discharged home with complete resolution of her symptoms and returned to her previous health status.

Analysis of the Retina, Choroid, and Optic Nerve Structures using Optical Coherence Tomography in Patients Recovered from Coronavirus Disease 2019

Purpose: To evaluate retina, choroid and optic nerve in patients recovered from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Methods: Fifty healthcare professionals who had COVID-19 infection- confirmed with polymerase chain reaction from nasopharyngeal swabs- and were at least one-month swab specimen negativeness after the treatment (CG) compared with 40 sex-matched healthy controls (HG). The dilated fundoscopy examination and optical coherence tomography (OCT) scanning were performed. The fundoscopy examination, subfoveal and peripapillary choroidal vascularity index (CVI), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and Bruch membrane opening (BMO)-minimum rim width (MRW) were evaluated.Results: The mean subfoveal and peripapillary CVI were found significantly higher in the CG than the HG (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). In the CG, two (4 %) patients had cotton-wool spot (CWS), one (2 %) patients had retinal hemorrhage. Discussion: COVID-19 might be associated with increased subfoveal and peripapillary CVI and retinal changes after the healing period.

Genome Sequence of a SARS-CoV-2 P.1 Variant of Concern (20J/501Y.V3) from Bangladesh

This study reports the coding-complete genome sequence, with variant identifications and phylogenetic analysis, of a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) P.1 variant (20J/501Y.V3), obtained from an oropharyngeal swab specimen from a female Bangladeshi patient diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with no travel history.

Complete Genome Sequence of a SARS-CoV-2 Strain Sampled in Morocco in May 2020, Obtained Using Sanger Sequencing

ABSTRACT The complete genome sequence of a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strain was obtained. The strain was isolated from a nasopharyngeal swab specimen from a female patient in Rabat, Morocco, with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This strain belongs to clade 20A and has 12 mutations and 8 amino acid substitutions compared to the reference strain Wuhan/Hu-1/2019.

First Report of a SARS-CoV-2 Genome Sequence with a Spike His69-Val70 Deletion and an Asn439Lys Mutation in Morocco

ABSTRACT We report the nearly complete genome sequence and the genetic variations of a clinical sample of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) collected from a nasopharyngeal swab specimen from a male patient from Harhoura-Rabat, Morocco. The sequence, which was obtained using Ion Torrent technology, is valuable as it carries a recently described deletion (His69-Val70) and substitution (Asn439Lys).

Frequency of asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2 among children and adults after school reopening

Background Children often develop an asymptomatic form of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but it is debated if children are at higher risk than adults to be asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2, especially during the school reopening. The main aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatic carriers in children and adults during the reopening of the schools in Milan, Italy. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study at the pediatric and adult Emergency Department (ED) of the Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico (Milan) between October 1 and 31, 2020, i.e. 3 weeks after the reopening of schools. Patients admitted to the ED short stay observation and without any sign or symptom consistent with a SARS-CoV-2 were eligible. These patients underwent a nasopharyngeal swab specimen for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. The odds ratio and its 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated to assess the risk of asymptomatically carrying the SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adults. Results A total of 69 (27 females, median age 8.7 years) children and 251 (107 females, median age 71 years) adults were enrolled. Pediatric and adult subjects tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 with a similar frequency (1/69 [1.4%] vs 4/251 [1.6%]). Children had an odds ratio to be a carrier of 0.91 (CI 0.02– 9.38) compared to adults. Conclusions The frequency of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers was similar among children and adults. Considering the emerging diffusion of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, the asymptomatic spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection among children and adults should be monitored.

Is the patient infected with SARS-CoV-2?

The US Food and Drug Administration currently uses the nasopharyngeal swab specimen as the reference standard for evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 assays. We propose that the patient-infected status algorithm is a superior way to classify whether an individual is infected or not infected.