The clinical feature and follow up of asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 carriers: A study from Middle China

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been highly epidemic in the whole world now. Asymptomatic transmission of severe acute respiratory coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)might pose challenges for disease control. Little information on its characteristics of asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers is available. This study aimed to clarify the clinical feature and follow-up data of asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers, We hope the information would help the management of asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers. Methods: This retrospective study included all asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers inThe First People’s Hospital of Yueyang(Hunan,China) and Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital (Changsha, China) between January 22 and March 26, 2020. The epidemiology ,clinical characteristic,laboratory data,chest CT and follow-up data of these cases were investigated. Results: 24 asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers were enrolled inThe First People’s Hospital of Yueyang and Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital between Jan 22, 2020 and Mar 26, 2020 . All patients had history of exposure to SARS-CoV-2. During the whole disease course, patients had no symptoms and most of laboratory findings were normal. The median period from contact to diagnosis was 9.6days(1-38days). The median period from diagnosis to discharge was 14.4 days (6-24 days). Following after discharge,all patients continued to be asymptomatic.5(20.83%) patients were admitted again because their specimens(4 throat swab and 1 feces) showed re-positive results in SARS-CoV-2 PCR. The re-positive time away from diagnosis(day) was from 23-53 days; the time from re-positive to re-negative RT-PCR of SARS-CoV-2 was 3-11 days. Conclusion: Asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers have favorable outcomes and should be closely monitored. We suggested post-discharge surveillance of them.