VSS Institute of Medical Science & Research, Burla, Sambalpur and Regional Medical Research Center, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Nepal J Ophthalmol. 2022 Jul;14(28):23-32. doi: 10.3126/nepjoph.v14i2.43169.
The principal route of transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-COV-2) is respiratory droplets. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test of throat swabs, nasopharyngeal swabs, sputum, endotracheal aspirates and bronchoalveolar lavage is the diagnostic test of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. Since the epithelium of the conjunctiva contains angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 receptors, the presence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 in conjunctival secretion can be expected. The present study is designed to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 from conjunctival secretions and the prevalence of conjunctivitis in laboratory-confirmed CoronaVirus disease-19 (COVID-19) patients.
This is a prospective observational study carried out in a tertiary care hospital in western Odisha, India from September 2020 to November 2020 during the first wave of CoronaVirus disease-19. One hundred and thirteen laboratory-confirmed CoronaVirus disease-19 positive patients either by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or Rapid antigen test (RAT) from nasopharyngeal swabs were included. Conjunctival swabs were collected from all these patients with proper precautionary measures and sent for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test. Any signs of conjunctivitis at any stage of the illness were observed in all the patients.
Out of 113 samples, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test of the conjunctival swab was found to be positive in three patients (2.65%). The mean cycle threshold (CT) value of these three swabs was 27.16. No signs of conjunctivitis were found in any of these patients. Diabetes and hypertension were associated comorbidities in one patient.
The absence of conjunctivitis despite the presence of virus in the conjunctival swab gives a message to the ophthalmologists to take precautionary measures during a routine eye examination.
严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2（SARS-CoV-2）的主要传播途径是呼吸道飞沫。咽拭子、鼻咽拭子、痰、气管吸出物和支气管肺泡灌洗液的逆转录-聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）检测是严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2 的诊断检测。由于结膜上皮含有血管紧张素转换酶 2 受体，因此可以预期严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2 存在于结膜分泌物中。本研究旨在从结膜分泌物中检测严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2 并检测在实验室确诊的 2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）患者中结膜炎的患病率。
这是一项在印度奥里萨邦西部的一家三级保健医院进行的前瞻性观察研究，时间为 2020 年 9 月至 2020 年 11 月，正值 2019 年冠状病毒病的第一波疫情期间。共纳入 113 例经鼻咽拭子逆转录-聚合酶链反应或快速抗原检测（RAT）实验室确诊的 2019 年冠状病毒病阳性患者。对所有这些患者均采取适当的预防措施采集结膜拭子，并进行逆转录-聚合酶链反应检测。观察所有患者在疾病的任何阶段是否有结膜炎的任何迹象。
在 113 例样本中，发现 3 例（2.65%）结膜拭子的逆转录-聚合酶链反应检测呈阳性。这三个拭子的平均循环阈值（CT）值为 27.16。在这些患者中均未发现结膜炎的迹象。其中一名患者合并有糖尿病和高血压。
结膜拭子中存在病毒，但没有出现结膜炎，这一结果提醒眼科医生在常规眼部检查时要采取预防措施。
