Background The aim of this study was to demonstrate the presence of the virus in tear and conjunctival secretions of clinically-confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia patients. Methods This prospective study was conducted at Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital (2020/190). Nasopharyngeal and ocular samples were obtained by swab technique and investigated by RT-PCR. Results A total of 83 patients were included. The mean age was 61.88 ± 16.04 years. 28.92% of the patients had mild, 65.06% moderate and 6.02% severe pneumonia radiologically. RT-PCR was positive in 31 (37.35%) patients in the first nasopharyngeal swabs and in 19 (22.89%) in the second swabs. 17 of 19 patients had positive both first and second nasopharyngeal swabs; only the second swabs of two patients were positive. The first conjunctival swabs RT-PCR were positive in 5 out of 83 clinically-confirmed patients or 33 laboratory-confirmed patients (rates: 6.02% and 15.15%). There were no positives detected in the second conjunctival swabs. Conclusions SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in the conjunctival swabs of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Pneumonia, Nasopharyngeal swab, Conjunctival swab, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19 pneumonia, Pneumonia, Prospective Study, RT-PCR, virus, nasopharyngeal swabs, nasopharyngeal, swabs, Patient, Mild, age, Swab, severe pneumonia, moderate, training, Conjunctival secretions, two patients, COVID-19 pneumonia patients, positive, laboratory-confirmed, conjunctival swabs, ocular, Conjunctival secretion, Result, the patient, investigated, conducted, patients with COVID-19, 【제목키워드】 Pneumonia, investigation, Conjunctival secretion, hospitalized patient,