Duration of viral infectiousness and correlation with symptoms and diagnostic testing in non-hospitalized adults during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection: A longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines for SARS-CoV-2 have relied on limited data on duration of viral infectiousness and correlation with COVID-19 symptoms and diagnostic testing. METHODS: We enrolled ambulatory adults with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and performed serial measurements of COVID-19 symptoms, nasal swab viral RNA, nucleocapsid (N) and spike (S) antigens, and replication-competent SARS-CoV-2 by viral growth in culture. We determined average time from symptom onset to a first negative test result and estimated risk of infectiousness, as defined by positive viral growth in culture. RESULTS: Among 95 adults, median [interquartile range] time from symptom onset to first negative test result was 9 [5] days, 13 [6] days, 11 [4] days, and >19 days for S antigen, N antigen, culture growth, and viral RNA by RT-PCR, respectively. Beyond two weeks, virus growth and N antigen titers were rarely positive, while viral RNA remained detectable among half (26/51) of participants tested 21-30 days after symptom onset. Between 6-10 days from symptom onset, N antigen was strongly associated with culture positivity (relative risk=7.61, 95% CI: 3.01-19.22), whereas neither viral RNA nor symptoms were associated with culture positivity. During the 14 days following symptom onset, the presence of N antigen remained strongly associated (adjusted relative risk=7.66, 95% CI: 3.96-14.82) with culture positivity, regardless of COVID-19 symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Most adults have replication-competent SARS-CoV-2 for 10-14 after symptom onset. N antigen testing is a strong predictor of viral infectiousness and may be a more suitable biomarker, rather than absence of symptoms or viral RNA, to discontinue isolation within two weeks from symptom onset.

An Intersectional Mixed Methods Approach to Understand American Indian Men's Health.

This study used a parallel convergent mixed methods design with TribalCrit theory and intersectionality as analytical frameworks to identify how American Indian men's identities intersect with broader structures and systems to shape their eating and physical activity choices and behaviors, and to elicit recommendations for a men's lifestyle intervention. AI men were recruited in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Portland, Oregon between March and December 2017 and in Phoenix, Arizona in December 2019 to participate in a survey and focus groups. The survey included demographic questions and questions about physical and cultural activities men engage in, perceived social support for lifestyle behaviors, masculine characteristics, and values important to American Indian men. The 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale was used to assess psychological distress. Focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed for a phenomenological analysis. Descriptive statistics and correlations were computed for survey data. We conducted 15 focus groups with 151 adult American Indian men in three urban sites. The mean age of participants ranged from 36-51 across the sites; 7%-32% were college graduates; 13%-22% were currently married and 28%-41% were working full time. The most important values reported by participants were being: strong mentally and emotionally, a good parent, responsible, spiritual, and a good spouse or partner. On the K6 psychological distress scale, 63%-70% scored ≥5 but <13 (moderate mental distress), and 8%-15% scored ≥13 indicating severe mental distress. Younger age was significantly correlated with higher mean K6 score (p < .0001). Colonizers and missionaries that settled in the U.S. imposed cultural and gender hegemony which enforced a patriarchal capitalist system that have had long-lasting and deleterious effects on American Indians, particularly American Indian men.