tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Health Inf Sci Syst
. 2021 Jan 18;9(1):6.
doi: 10.1007/s13755-020-00136-2. eCollection 2021 Dec.
Epidemiological investigation of a COVID-19 family cluster outbreak transmitted by a 3-month-old infant
Guo-Tian Lin[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yue-Hua Zhang[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 2 [/SUP], Mei-Fang Xiao[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 3 [/SUP], Yong Wei[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Jin-Ni Chen[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Dao-Jiong Lin[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Jia-Chong Wang[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Qiu-Yu Lin[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Zhi-Xian Lei[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Zhen-Qiong Zeng[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ling Li[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Hong-Ai Li[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ying Zheng[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Qiu-Qiong Li[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Huang-Zhen Zhen[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Yu-Ming Jin[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Qing-Xia Wu[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Fan Zhang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Wei Xiang[SUP] 5 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics, epidemiological characteristics, and transmissibility of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a family cluster outbreak transmitted by a 3-month-old confirmed positive infant.
Methods: Field-based epidemiological methods were used to investigate cases and their close contacts. Real-time fluorescent reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) for all collected specimens. Serum SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies were detected by Chemiluminescence and Gold immnnochromatography (GICA).
Results: The outbreak was a family cluster with an attack rate of 80% (4/5). The first case in this family was a 3-month-old infant. The transmission chain was confirmed from infant to adults (her father, mother and grandmother). Fecal tests for SARS-CoV-2 RNA remained positive for 37 days after the infant was discharged. The infant's grandmother was confirmed to be positive 2 days after the infant was discharged from hospital. Patients A (3-month-old female), B (patient A's father), C (patient A's grandmother), and D (patient A's mother) had positive serum IgG and negative IgM, but patients A's grandfather serum IgG and IgM were negative.
Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 has strong transmissibility within family settings and presence of viral RNA in stool raises concern for possible fecal-oral transmission. Hospital follow-up and close contact tracing are necessary for those diagnosed with COVID-19.
Keywords: COVID-19; Family cluster; Infant; Serum antibodies.
. 2021 Jan 18;9(1):6.
doi: 10.1007/s13755-020-00136-2. eCollection 2021 Dec.
Epidemiological investigation of a COVID-19 family cluster outbreak transmitted by a 3-month-old infant
Guo-Tian Lin[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yue-Hua Zhang[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 2 [/SUP], Mei-Fang Xiao[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 3 [/SUP], Yong Wei[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Jin-Ni Chen[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Dao-Jiong Lin[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Jia-Chong Wang[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Qiu-Yu Lin[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Zhi-Xian Lei[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Zhen-Qiong Zeng[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ling Li[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Hong-Ai Li[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ying Zheng[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Qiu-Qiong Li[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Huang-Zhen Zhen[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Yu-Ming Jin[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Qing-Xia Wu[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Fan Zhang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Wei Xiang[SUP] 5 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33489103
- PMCID: PMC7812712
- DOI: 10.1007/s13755-020-00136-2
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics, epidemiological characteristics, and transmissibility of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a family cluster outbreak transmitted by a 3-month-old confirmed positive infant.
Methods: Field-based epidemiological methods were used to investigate cases and their close contacts. Real-time fluorescent reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) for all collected specimens. Serum SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies were detected by Chemiluminescence and Gold immnnochromatography (GICA).
Results: The outbreak was a family cluster with an attack rate of 80% (4/5). The first case in this family was a 3-month-old infant. The transmission chain was confirmed from infant to adults (her father, mother and grandmother). Fecal tests for SARS-CoV-2 RNA remained positive for 37 days after the infant was discharged. The infant's grandmother was confirmed to be positive 2 days after the infant was discharged from hospital. Patients A (3-month-old female), B (patient A's father), C (patient A's grandmother), and D (patient A's mother) had positive serum IgG and negative IgM, but patients A's grandfather serum IgG and IgM were negative.
Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 has strong transmissibility within family settings and presence of viral RNA in stool raises concern for possible fecal-oral transmission. Hospital follow-up and close contact tracing are necessary for those diagnosed with COVID-19.
Keywords: COVID-19; Family cluster; Infant; Serum antibodies.