Detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus on the ocular surface of an asymptomatic health-care professional

Gross, Luísa Grave; Gasparini, Matheus Schwengber; Santos, Leandro Mechi Dos; Hamade, Ahmad Mohamad Ali; Favarato, Arthur Pinheiro; Parise, Pierina Lorencini; Proença-Módena, José Luiz; Alves, Mônica

doi:10.5935/0004-2749.20230047

Cited by 1 publication

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“…SARS-CoV-2 prevalence in tears has already been explored in other studies, ranging from 0% to 57% [ 27 , 28 ]. Most of these studies used only CS for tear collection [ 27 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ], one study used only SS [ 43 ], and four other studies used both tear collecting methods [ 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ]. Our study confirms previous findings that CS samples had a higher SARS-CoV-2 detection rate compared to SS samples, and the viral loads in tear samples were lower compared to nasopharyngeal samples [ 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conjunctival Swabs Reveal Higher Detection Rate Compared to Schirmer Strips for SARS-CoV-2 RNA Detection in Tears of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

Sabage

Sun

Wolf

et al. 2022

JCM

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Purpose: To determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in tear samples and to investigate whether it correlates with ocular findings and patients’ prognosis in Brazil. Methods: Tears were collected using Schirmer strips (SS) and conjunctival swabs (CS) from patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Samples were analyzed using qRT-PCR. Demographic and clinical data, ocular symptoms, and Schirmer tests (ST) were collected from patients. Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was used to rate comorbidities, and patients were monitored until hospital discharge or death. Results: There were 61 hospitalized patients, 33 of which were diagnosed with COVID-19. Within the confirmed COVID-19 patients, SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 18.2% (n = 6) of CS and 12.1% (n = 4) of SS samples. Subjective and objective parameters for dry eye syndrome (e.g., ST COVID-19: 8.3 ± 6.4mm, non-COVID-19: 8.9 ± 6.6mm, p > 0.05) were comparable between COVID-19 (n = 33) and non-COVID-19 patients (n = 28). Among the 16 COVID-19 patients exhibiting ocular symptoms, only tearing was reported significantly more frequently when tear samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 (p < 0.05). Strikingly, patients whose tears tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 had significantly inferior CCI (pos.: 34.0 ± 31.8%, neg.: 67.6 ± 36.4%, p < 0.05) and higher mortality rates (pos.: 50.0%, neg.: 7.4%, p < 0.01). Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 was detected with a prevalence of 18.2% on the ocular surface. Decreased CCI and increased mortality rate in the positive tear group suggests that viral detection may relate to prognosis and highlight the need of personal protective measures for healthcare professionals. Most of the patients, regardless of COVID-19 diagnosis, had low tear production and eye discomfort, possibly pointing to the need for artificial tear use during hospitalization.

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