Median Nucleic Acid Conversion Time and The Clinical and Laboratory
Parameters Affecting It in Patients with COVID-19
Abstract
Background: The time for PCR positivity to negativity is defined as
nucleic acid conversion time (NCT) and is very important in terminating
the isolation of patients and determining infectiousness in patients
with COVID-19. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the
median NCT and to evaluate the clinical and laboratory parameters
affecting it in patients with COVID-19. Methods: This study included 318
mild to moderate patients with COVID-19 diagnosed with PCR positivity
retrospectively. Results: The median NCT was 11 days. Patients were
divided into 2 groups as early (<11 days) and late conversion
(>=11 days). Older age, sore throat, onset fever, fever 72
hours after hospitalization, history of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 virus
without a mask and moderated disease were significantly more common in
the late conversion group. In addition, favipiravir use was higher in
early conversion group and hydroxychloroquine use was higher in late
conversion group. In multivariate analysis, sore throat (OR = 2.570;
95% CI: 1.051-6.284) and hydroxychloroquine use (OR = 3.518, 95% CI:
1.163-10.635) were independent risk factors for late conversion.
Favipiravir use (OR = 0.062, 95% CI: 0.021-0.184) negatively affected
the late conversion. Conclusion: NCT was longer in patients with
COVID-19 who had sore throat at admission and were treated with
hydroxychloroquine instead of favipiravir. Keywords: COVID-19, Nucleic
Acids, Polymerase Chain Reaction, SARS-CoV-2.