Conference abstract
Viral dynamics and factors favouring the duration of COVID-19 positivity: evidence from the first-three epidemiological waves in Cameroon
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2023:18(7).03
Oct 2023.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2023.18.7.2052
Archived on: 03 Oct 2023
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, positivity duration, determinants, viral dynamics
Oral presentation
Viral dynamics and factors favouring the duration of COVID-19 positivity: evidence from the first-three epidemiological waves in Cameroon
Aurelie Minelle Kengni Ngueko1,&, Joseph Fokam1
1Chantal Biya International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Introduction: evolution evidence of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and viral clearance time remains limited in tropical settings. Understanding this is crucial for public health control measures at a community level. We evaluated the viral dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 infection and factors associated with positivity duration in COVID-19 cases in Cameroon. The objectivewas to evaluate the viral dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 infection and factors associated with positivity duration in COVID-19 cases in Cameroon
Methods: we conducted a prospective cohort study of SARS-CoV-2 positive cases from the first to the third wave (First wave from March 2020-September 2020, Second wave from October 2020- May 2021, and Third wave from June 2021-October 2021) in Yaounde-Cameroon. RT-PCR was performed on nasopharyngeal swabs using one of the two platforms: Abbott m2000sp or DA aN Gene. SARS-CoV-2 positivity duration was evaluated from the first to the last positive test before a negative result. Epi-info V.7.0 was used for data analyses with p<0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: we enrolled 282 participants. The mean age was 41±14 years with male predominant (62.1%), and 15.6% symptomatic cases (cough most common (59.09%)). The overall median positivity duration was 15[IQR: 9-23] days with 15[ IQR: 13-16] in the first, 17[ IQR: 11-26] in the second and 8[ IQR: 4-12] in the third wave (p= 0.007). Positivity duration was significantly higher in males (16 versus 14 days, p=0.03) and people aged >40 years (15 versus 14 days, p=0.02). Considering baseline (24.7±7.2Ct) and last viral load (29.3±5.9 Ct), the ΔCt (4.6±1.3) and positivity duration (15 days) revealed a kinetic in viral decay of 0.3±0.087 Ct/day.
Conclusion: a median positivity duration of 15 days is in accordance with viral clearance around 2 weeks for optimal confinement at a community level. Men and/or the elderly stand at higher risk of prolonged infection. Given the viral decay (0.3 Ct daily), we suggest personalized confinement periods. The variability of positivity duration according to phases could be a function of strains which could be a factor of positivity duration.
Viral dynamics and factors favouring the duration of COVID-19 positivity: evidence from the first-three epidemiological waves in Cameroon
Aurelie Minelle Kengni Ngueko1,&, Joseph Fokam1
1Chantal Biya International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Introduction: evolution evidence of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and viral clearance time remains limited in tropical settings. Understanding this is crucial for public health control measures at a community level. We evaluated the viral dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 infection and factors associated with positivity duration in COVID-19 cases in Cameroon. The objectivewas to evaluate the viral dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 infection and factors associated with positivity duration in COVID-19 cases in Cameroon
Methods: we conducted a prospective cohort study of SARS-CoV-2 positive cases from the first to the third wave (First wave from March 2020-September 2020, Second wave from October 2020- May 2021, and Third wave from June 2021-October 2021) in Yaounde-Cameroon. RT-PCR was performed on nasopharyngeal swabs using one of the two platforms: Abbott m2000sp or DA aN Gene. SARS-CoV-2 positivity duration was evaluated from the first to the last positive test before a negative result. Epi-info V.7.0 was used for data analyses with p<0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: we enrolled 282 participants. The mean age was 41±14 years with male predominant (62.1%), and 15.6% symptomatic cases (cough most common (59.09%)). The overall median positivity duration was 15[IQR: 9-23] days with 15[ IQR: 13-16] in the first, 17[ IQR: 11-26] in the second and 8[ IQR: 4-12] in the third wave (p= 0.007). Positivity duration was significantly higher in males (16 versus 14 days, p=0.03) and people aged >40 years (15 versus 14 days, p=0.02). Considering baseline (24.7±7.2Ct) and last viral load (29.3±5.9 Ct), the ΔCt (4.6±1.3) and positivity duration (15 days) revealed a kinetic in viral decay of 0.3±0.087 Ct/day.
Conclusion: a median positivity duration of 15 days is in accordance with viral clearance around 2 weeks for optimal confinement at a community level. Men and/or the elderly stand at higher risk of prolonged infection. Given the viral decay (0.3 Ct daily), we suggest personalized confinement periods. The variability of positivity duration according to phases could be a function of strains which could be a factor of positivity duration.
