Abstract
Data on the detailed clinical progression of COVID-19 in conjunction with epidemiological and virological characteristics are limited. In this case series, we describe the first 12 US patients confirmed to have COVID-19 from 20 January to 5 February 2020, including 4 patients described previously1,2,3. Respiratory, stool, serum and urine specimens were submitted for SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) testing, viral culture and whole genome sequencing. Median age was 53 years (range: 21–68); 8 patients were male. Common symptoms at illness onset were cough (n = 8) and fever (n = 7). Patients had mild to moderately severe illness; seven were hospitalized and demonstrated clinical or laboratory signs of worsening during the second week of illness. No patients required mechanical ventilation and all recovered. All had SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in respiratory specimens, typically for 2–3 weeks after illness onset. Lowest real-time PCR with reverse transcription cycle threshold values in the upper respiratory tract were often detected in the first week and SARS-CoV-2 was cultured from early respiratory specimens. These data provide insight into the natural history of SARS-CoV-2. Although infectiousness is unclear, highest viral RNA levels were identified in the first week of illness. Clinicians should anticipate that some patients may worsen in the second week of illness.
【초록키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Hospitalized, mechanical ventilation, Sequencing, Symptom, progression, cough, Laboratory, serum, Stool, rRT-PCR, Case series, Characteristics, Real-time PCR, Fever, male, Patient, Urine, Mild, age, epidemiological, reverse transcription, SARS-CoV-2 RNA, Viral RNA, respiratory, viral culture, upper respiratory tract, respiratory specimens, Cycle threshold value, Virological, worsening, specimen, illness onset, whole genome, common, polymerase chain, Seven, highest, described, required, demonstrated, submitted, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19, coronavirus disease, Characteristics, clinical, Patient, the United State,