AUTHOR=Zhu Xueling , Wu Wenrui , Ning Jianwen , Dai Tingting , Fang Daiqiong , Wu Jingjing , Shi Ding 

TITLE=Clinical characteristics and clinical outcome of community clusters with SARS-CoV-2 infection

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1010099

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2022.1010099

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>Community clustering is one of the main features of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, few studies have been conducted on the clinical characteristics and clinical outcome of clustered cases and sporadic cases with COVID-19.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>We recruited 41 community clusters confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with 49 sporadic cases in Zhejiang Province from 19 January 2020 to 9 June 2020. Clinical data were collected to evaluate the clinical outcome and characteristics of community clusters.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Compared to sporadic cases, clustered cases had significantly lower Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score {5.0 [interquartile range (IQR), 2.0–7.5] vs. 7.0 [IQR, 4.0–12.5]; <italic>P</italic> = 0.005}, less members in intensive care unit (ICU) (6 [14.6%] vs. 18 [36.7%]; <italic>P</italic> = 0.018), and shorter time of viral shedding in fecal samples (18.5 [IQR, 17.0–28.3] vs. 32.0 [IQR, 24.3–35.5]; <italic>P</italic> = 0.002). Univariable logistic regression revealed that older age (odds ratios 1.078, 95% confidence intervals 1.007–1.154, per year increase; <italic>p</italic> = 0.032), high APACHE II score (3.171, 1.147–8.76; <italic>P</italic> = 0.026), elevated interleukin-2 levels (3.078, 1.145–8.279; <italic>P</italic> = 0.026) were associated with ICU admission of clustered cases.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>Compared to sporadic cases, clustered cases exhibited milder disease severity and a better clinical outcome, which may be closely related to the management of early detection, early diagnosis, early treatment and early isolation of COVID-19.</p></sec>