It was unknown how COVID-19 infection virological dynamics in hemodialysis patients and the de-isolation strategy for dialysis centers were impacted by different levels of concern and vaccination status.
For a study, researchers sought to assess the virological dynamics of vaccinated and unvaccinated hemodialysis patients with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 infection of the delta and pre-delta forms, they conducted a retrospective observational cohort research between February 2020 and September 2021.
In comparison to those infected during the pre-delta variant era, those of the 38 persons with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 infection who were infected during the delta-variant period had greater viral loads upon presentation. They needed more time to attain a negative PCR swab. Unvaccinated individuals took the longest to get negative PCR swab results when infected during the delta-variant phase. Nevertheless, vaccinated and unvaccinated people reached high PCR cycle threshold values of ≥25 and ≥30 at around the same time.
The research revealed that individuals who got COVID-19 during the delta-variant phase of the disease had greater viral loads upon presentation and longer viral shedding, particularly in the cohort who had not received vaccinations. Although conversion to negative PCR may not be an essential need for de-isolation, extended delay to negative PCR was likely caused by inactive viral shedding.
Reference: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nep.14084
