Initial Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Viral Load Is Associated With Disease Severity: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: We assessed the association between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral load and hospital admission, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and in-hospital mortality.

Methods: All SARS-CoV-2-positive persons with a combined nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab that was collected between 17 March 2020 and 31 March 2021 in public health testing facilities were included.

Results: From 20 207 SARS-CoV-2-positive persons, 310 (1.

The Effect of Varying Interval Definitions on the Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfections: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Cohort Study.

Background: We assessed the SARS-CoV-2 reinfection rate in a large patient cohort, and evaluated the effect of varying time intervals between two positive tests on assumed reinfection rates using viral load data.

Methods: All positive SARS-CoV-2 samples collected between 1 March 2020 and 1 August 2021 from a laboratory in the region Kennemerland, the Netherlands, were included. The reinfection rate was analyzed using different time intervals between two positive tests varying between 2 and 16 weeks.

SARS-CoV-2 viral-load distribution reveals that viral loads increase with age: a retrospective cross-sectional cohort study.

Background: Describing the SARS-CoV-2 viral-load distribution in different patient groups and age categories.

Methods: All results from first nasopharyngeal (NP) and oropharyngeal (OP) swabs from unique patients tested via SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) collected between 1 January and 1 December 2020 predominantly in the Public Health Services regions Kennemerland and Hollands Noorden, province of North Holland, the Netherlands, were included in this study. SARS-CoV-2 PCR crossing-point (Cp)-values were used to estimate viral loads.

Flexible bronchoscopy in supine or sitting position: a randomized prospective analysis of safety and patient comfort.

Background: Flexible bronchoscopy is performed under many different conditions (sitting/supine position, with or without oxygen prophylaxis) in different hospitals according to local traditions.

Objectives: The study was to investigate the effect of different patient positions in flexible bronchoscopy on patient comfort and safety.

Methods: We started a prospective randomized controlled trial to compare bronchoscopy in supine and sitting positions.