16.06.2020
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in fecal specimens of patients with confirmed COVID-19: a meta-analysis
Diagnostic Hepato-gastroenterologyVirology
Wong MCS et al
J infect
Main result
- Based on 17 studies, the combined fecal SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection rate was 43.7% per patient (95% CI 32.6% - 55.0%) and 33.7% per sample (95% CI 33.7%, 95% CI 20.1% - 48.8%).
- Women (59.6% vs. 53.5%), those with gastrointestinal symptoms (77.1% vs. 57.7%) and patients with severe illness (68.3% vs. 34.6%) tended to have a higher detection rate.
Takeaways
The pooled RNA detection rate was 43.7% per patient and 33.7% per sample.
Females, patients with gastrointestinal symptoms or more severe disease had a higher detection rate.
Females, patients with gastrointestinal symptoms or more severe disease had a higher detection rate.
Strength of evidence Weak
Pre-proof
n=17 (15 Chinese studies, 1 U.S., 1 Singapore), 436 patients
Overall good methodology for review and meta-analysis, with exploration of publication bias and sensitivity analysis.
Only 7 indicated whether patients had respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms. 4 studies reported the severity of the disease.
Relatively high study heterogeneities
Objectives
To examine the detection rate of SARS-CoV-2 in fecal samples from patients with SARS-CoV-2.
To assess the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in different sociodemographic populations, based on clinical characteristics including gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms, disease severity and time of disease progression.
Method
- Systematic review and meta-analysis, search on MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus and three Chinese biomedical databases until March 25, 2020 without language restriction.
- Inclusion: Original observational studies reporting the detection rate of CoV-2 SARS RNA in fecal samples from COVID-19 patients.
- Two separate reviewers.
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