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Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 63. No. 3-4, 2024.

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2024.63.03-04.08

Screening of Asymptomatic COVID-19 Cases from the Aspect of Virus Spread

Mesut Ortatatli orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-7899-6157 ; Department of Medical CBRN Defense, University of Health Sciences, Etlik, Ankara, Turkey *
Zahir Kilic ; Department of Medical CBRN Defense, University of Health Sciences, Etlik, Ankara, Turkey
Ahu Pakdemirli ; Department of Medical CBRN Defense, University of Health Sciences, Etlik, Ankara, Turkey; Department of Physiology, Gulhane Medical Faculty, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey
Levent Kenar orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-6613-1308 ; Department of Medical CBRN Defense, University of Health Sciences, Etlik, Ankara, Turkey

* Corresponding author.

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the entire world. While symptomatic patients
can be taken out of the infection chain, asymptomatic cases are very important for the spread of
SARS-CoV-2. We investigated the relationship between isolating asymptomatic COVID-19 cases
with close contacts by identifying and breaking the infection chain. This study included 3 asymptomatic
COVID-19 cases identified during screening and 25 close contacts as a result of filiation.
Twenty-five people with close contact were classified into groups A (n=8), B (n=6) and C (n=11). On
SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests performed in close contacts, all of them were negative on day 0, whereas
two group C subjects were positive on day 7. On antibody test applied on day 28, six subjects were
positive in group A, two subjects were positive in group B, and one subject was positive in group C.
A statistically significant decrease was observed in the number of infected people in the group where
asymptomatic cases were identified and removed (p=0.04). It was determined that asymptomatic
COVID-19 cases who were not isolated from the community had a 5-fold increased risk of infection.
Screening and identification of asymptomatic cases is also essential to augment the effectiveness of
quarantine and isolation measures.

Keywords

COVID-19; Asymptomatic infection; Filiation; Close contact; Transmission

Hrčak ID:

333113

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/333113

Publication date:

31.12.2024.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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