Demographic and clinical correlates of acute and convalescent SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients of a U.S. emergency department.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Emergency Departments (EDs) have served as critical surveillance sites for infectious diseases. We sought to determine the prevalence and temporal trends of acute (by PCR) and convalescent (by antibody [Ab]) SARS-CoV-2 infection during the earliest phase of the pandemic among patients in an urban ED in Baltimore City.

Methods

We tested remnant blood samples from 3255 unique ED patients, collected between March 16th and May 31st 2020 for SARS-CoV-2 Ab. PCR for acute SARS-CoV-2 infection from nasopharyngeal swabs was obtained on any patients based on clinical suspicion. Hospital records were abstracted and factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection were assessed.

Results

Of 3255 ED patients, 8.2% (95%CI: 7.3%, 9.2%) individuals had evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in

SUBMITTER: Laeyendecker O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8086378 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature