Distinct Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients with Positive or Negative RT-PCR Test

Emergency USP COVID-19 Group: Alicia Dudy Müller Veiga, Arthur Petrillo Bellintani, Helena Souza Pinto, Isabela Argollo Ferreira, Joana Margarida Alves Mota, Luca Suzano Baptista, Marcelo de Oliveira Silva, Mário Turolla Ribeiro, Matheus Nakao de Sousa, Matheus Saldanha Rodrigues Duarte, Matheus Zanelatto Junqueira, Mônica Yhasmin de Lima Redondo, Pedro Gaspar dos Santos, Rafael Berenguer Luna, Tales Cabral Monsalvarga, Thalissa Ferreira, Vitor Macedo Brito Medeiros, Willaby Serafim Cassa Ferreira.

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HCFMUSP COVID-19 Study Group: Tarcisio E.P. Barros-Filho, Eloisa Bonfa, Edivaldo M. Utiyama, Aluisio C. Segurado, Beatriz Perondi, Anna Miethke-Morais, Amanda C. Montal, Leila Harima, Solange R.G. Fusco, Marjorie F. Silva, Marcelo C. Rocha, Izabel Marcilio, Izabel Cristina Rios, Fabiane Yumi Ogihara Kawano, Maria Amélia de Jesus, Esper Kallas, Maria Cristina Peres Braido Francisco, Carolina Mendes do Carmo, Clarice Tanaka, Maura Salaroli Oliveira, Thaís Guimarães, Carolina dos Santos Lázari, Marcello M.C. Magri, Anna Sara Shafferman Levin, Alberto José da Silva Duarte, Ester Sabino.

Academic Editors: Burtram C. Fielding and Georgia Schäfer

Viruses 2022, 14(2), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/v14020175

Received: 7 December 2021 / Revised: 8 January 2022 / Accepted: 15 January 2022 / Published: 18 January 2022

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coronaviruses Research in BRICS Countries)

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Abstract

Identification of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by RT-PCR from a nasopharyngeal swab sample is a common test for diagnosing COVID-19. However, some patients present clinical, laboratorial, and radiological evidence of COVID-19 infection with negative RT-PCR result(s). Thus, we assessed whether positive results were associated with intubation and mortality. This study was conducted in a Brazilian tertiary hospital from March to August of 2020. All patients had clinical, laboratory, and radiological diagnosis of COVID-19. They were divided into two groups: positive (+) RT-PCR group, with 2292 participants, and negative (−) RT-PCR group, with 706 participants. Patients with negative RT-PCR testing and an alternative most probable diagnosis were excluded from the study. The RT-PCR(+) group presented increased risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay, and 28-day mortality, when compared to the RT-PCR(−) group. A positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR result was independently associated with intubation and 28 day in-hospital mortality. Accordingly, we concluded that patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis based on clinical data, despite a negative RT-PCR test from nasopharyngeal samples, presented more favorable outcomes than patients with positive RT-PCR test(s). View Full-Text

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 testing; COVID-19; hospital mortality; intubation

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MDPI and ACS Style

Saad Menezes, M.C.; Santinelli Pestana, D.V.; Ferreira, J.C.; Ribeiro de Carvalho, C.R.; Felix, M.C.; Marcilio, I.O.; da Silva, K.R.; Junior, V.C.; Marchini, J.F.; Alencar, J.C.; Gomez, L.M.G.; Mauá, D.D.; Souza, H.P.; Emergency USP COVID-19 Group; HCFMUSP COVID-19 Study Group. Distinct Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients with Positive or Negative RT-PCR Test. Viruses 2022, 14, 175. https://doi.org/10.3390/v14020175

AMA Style

Saad Menezes MC, Santinelli Pestana DV, Ferreira JC, Ribeiro de Carvalho CR, Felix MC, Marcilio IO, da Silva KR, Junior VC, Marchini JF, Alencar JC, Gomez LMG, Mauá DD, Souza HP, Emergency USP COVID-19 Group, HCFMUSP COVID-19 Study Group. Distinct Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients with Positive or Negative RT-PCR Test. Viruses. 2022; 14(2):175. https://doi.org/10.3390/v14020175

Chicago/Turabian Style

Saad Menezes, Maria Clara, Diego Vinicius Santinelli Pestana, Juliana Carvalho Ferreira, Carlos Roberto Ribeiro de Carvalho, Marcelo Consorti Felix, Izabel Oliva Marcilio, Katia Regina da Silva, Vilson Cobello Junior, Julio Flavio Marchini, Julio Cesar Alencar, Luz Marina Gomez Gomez, Denis Deratani Mauá, Heraldo Possolo Souza, Emergency USP COVID-19 Group, and HCFMUSP COVID-19 Study Group. 2022. "Distinct Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients with Positive or Negative RT-PCR Test" Viruses 14, no. 2: 175. https://doi.org/10.3390/v14020175

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