Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the Serum Samples of Healthy Blood Donors

Introduction: The transmission rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by blood transfusion is thought to be low;however, it has not yet been proven whether the virus is transmitted by blood transfusion. Published studies have reported that SARS-CoV-2 RNA has been detected in the blood, plasma, or serum of infected individuals. This study aimed to investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the serum of blood donors and evaluate the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by transfusion. Materials and Methods: In this study, 200 blood samples were taken from volunteer blood donors. In all serum samples, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected by reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. Medical records of the donors and recipients were retrospectively reviewed. Results: SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in seven (3.5%) of the donor serum samples. None of the positive donors had symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and none had been admitted to the hospital after donation. Seven SARS-CoV-2 RNA-positive donor blood components were given to 12 recipients. No medical records indicated that COVID-19 occurred after the transfusion of blood components for recipients. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the serum of asymptomatic donors. Although our data suggest that the transfusion of blood products from asymptomatic donors to recipients with SARS-CoV-2 RNA in their serum may not result in COVID-19, further studies are needed to prove that SARS-CoV-2 is not transmitted by blood transfusion.

Emerging Tuberculosis Among Patients with Previous COVID-19

COVID-19 patients have a higher incidence of opportunistic infections, but there is little information on tuberculosis (TB). In this study, it was aimed to determine any possible contribution of COVID-19 in TB emergence among patients diagnosed with TB during the pandemic. A retrospective screening of the regional TB laboratory's records identified TB patients diagnosed in the Malatya region between April 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021. Medical data of TB patients with a prior COVID-19 were evaluated. During the study period, 171 TB patients were diagnosed in the region, with 26 also infected with SARS-CoV-2. Patients' histories revealed that 10 (38.5%) of these 26 patients developed TB symptoms in a median 68.5 days after COVID-19. Four patients had one-week to two-month corticosteroid treatment due to severe COVID-19, and one had a hematological malignancy history. However, the remaining five patients had no significant predisposing factor for TB relapse. Four out of 10 patients were free of any finding for active TB before COVID-19. Severe COVID-19 may have some obvious implications for TB reactivation, but there was no conclusive evidence of such an effect in mild to moderate COVID-19. Nonetheless, inquiring about COVID-19 histories from TB patients in large-scale studies may provide high-quality evidence about the interactions between the two pathogens.

Relationship of Population Density with the Incidence of COVID-19 in the Example of Malatya Province

Introduction: Due to the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic it has been tried to reduce the spread of the virus by reducing the density of people in social environments and applying social distance rule all over the world. However, there are few studies on the population density of residential areas and the prevalence of the disease. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effect of population density on the incidence of COVID-19 in the sample of Malatya Province. Materials and Methods: In this study, which was conducted as a retrospective correlational (ecological) study, the population density of Malatya province and its districts was calculated as the number of people per km(2). The relationship between the COVID-19 incidences of residential areas and the calculated population density was investigated dusing Pearson correlation analysis. Results: The overall incidence of COVID-19 in Malatya province was calculated as 77 per thousand. Among the districts, the COVID-19 incidence of Arguvan and Kale was the lowest at 11 and 16 per thousand, respectively, and the COVID-19 incidences of Yesilyurt and Battalgazi districts were the highest, as 105 and 69, respectively. When the data of Malatya province districts were compared, it was determined that the incidence and population density (r= 0.82) had a very high correlation. Conclusion: In this study, it was determined that there is a significant correlation between population density and the incidence of COVID-19 in Malatya, a medium-sized city in our country. Although the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with many dynamic factors, in city planning, by spreading the population over large areas, resistance can be created against similar epidemics that may occur in the future.