February 12, 2020

Ophthalmologic evidence against the interpersonal transmission of 2019 novel coronavirus through conjunctiva

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Transmission

• A case series of 67 2019-nCoV pneumonia patients (NCP) was evaluated to assess possible 2019-nCoV transmission from aerosol contact with the conjunctiva. A conjunctival swab sample from one patient with no ocular symptoms was RT-PCR positive; one patient with conjunctivitis was RT-PCR negative. [Note: The weak study design did not address their hypothesis, but the lab findings are potentially of interest.]

Zhou Y, et al (Feb 12, 2020) Ophthalmologic evidence against the interpersonal transmission of 2019 novel coronavirus through conjunctiva. Pre-print accessed Feb 12 from https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.02.11.20021956v1