2.1 Basic clinical characteristics
Of the included 146 cases, 144 were cured and 2 died, with a mortality rate of 1.4%. There were 99 cases of mild-to-moderate infections (67.8%), 47 cases of severe and critical illness (32.2%), and 27 cases of underlying medical conditions (20.6%). Fifty-one (34.9%) reported a history of recent travel to Wuhan, 14 (9.6%) claimed recent travel to other cities in Hubei province, 15 (10.3%) had traveled to other epidemic provinces, while 66 (45.2%) reported no recent travel to any epidemic area. Of all subjects, 103 (70.5%) had family epidemic of COVID-19. In our study, 74 males (50.7%) and 72 females (49.3%) were included, with the medium age of 40 years, ranging from 1 month 25 days to 87 years. There were 11 child patients (7.5%) younger than 14 years and 26 patients (17.8%) older than 60 years. As illustrated in Figure 1, young adults were predominant in the age distribution of COVID-19 in Guizhou.
The first case in Guizhou province was confirmed on January 21, 2020. Over the course of 56 days, all COVID-19 patients were discharged due March 16, 2020. On March 17, the first imported case who reported no symptoms appeared, and was confirmed on March 28 and was still under isolation and treatment. The number of daily new cases of COVID-19 and accumulated totals in Guizhou province was illustrated in Figure 2.
2.2 SARS-CoV-2 NATs and reexaminations of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG after discharge
One hundred forty-four cases (except for 2 deaths) met the discharge criteria, with an average duration of quarantine treatment of 49 days, ranging from 14-70 days. Respiratory specimens were collected from the phlegm and nasopharyngeal swabs or from anal swabs, feces and urine to detect SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid levels. As a result, 20 cases were tested positive, with a relapse rate of 13.9%, and 2 of them were children. As of April 15, 2020, 5 cases relapsed after discharge indicated by positive results of SARS-CoV-2 NATs, with a mean age of 64 years, the average length of hospital stay of 20.8 days, the mean quarantine period of 36.5 days and the average sampling rate of 4.8 times.
Of the 20 relapsed cases, 19 were tested positive for both anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG, with an overall sensitivity of 95%; only 1 was tested negative, who still remained in quarantine for the interests of others and expected negative results of NATs and specific antibodies next time, though he could be released. Of the remaining 124 cases who showed negative results of NATs, all were tested positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and 29 were positive for both IgG and IgM.
2.3 Reexamination of chest CT scans
Of all included 144 cases who underwent chest CT scans at 2-4 weeks after discharged, 54 (37.5%) presented the absence of lung inflammation without any sequela, and 90 (62.5%) showed largely reduced lung injury which became focal inflammation with fibrosis and hyperplasia over time. Few cases had different degrees of the sequelae of lung injury, such as pleural thickening, adhesion, localized emphysema complicated with multiple bullae, focal atelectasis, focal bronchiectasis, multiple nodules (some were calcified) and enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes. Very few cases showed progressive infections, which was coincident with their relapsed SARS-CoV-2 NAT results.
2.4 Typical cases of COVID-19
2.4.1 Case 1of mild symptoms
A 12-year-old boy was found positive for SARS-CoV-2 NATs and admitted to a designated hospital on February 9, 2020. He had traveled to Wuhan and Xiaogan in Hubei province from January 15 to 24, and denied a history of contacts with fever patients or confirmed/suspected COVID-19 patients. He returned to Guizhou on January 24, without any symptom and positive finding. During the period of self-quarantine, SARS-CoV-2 NATs revealed positive results. So he was admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University. Laboratory examinations and the chest CT image revealed no abnormalities. He received an anti-COVID-19 strategy of ribavirin, lopinavir, ritonavir, arbidol, interferon, and lianhua qingwen granules, and was reexamined and discharged on February 17 after he met the discharge criteria.
2.4.2 Case 2 of moderate symptoms
A 51-year-old male who complained of fever for more than 7 days was admitted to our hospital on January 16, 2020. He went to Wuhan for a wholesale clothing business on January 5, but did not travel to the Huanan Seafood Market, and returned on January 13. On the same day, he started to have fever (with the highest temperature of 38.5 ℃), accompanied by cough, muscular soreness, dizziness, fatigue, a lack of appetite, and chest distress occasionally. Laboratory tests showed a low lymphocyte count and high levels of c-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6. The chest CT image indicated bilateral lung infections and right-sided pleural thickening. However, antibiotic therapy showed no efficacy before positive results of SARS-CoV-2 NATs returned. The reexamination of chest CT scan showed ground-glass opacity in the lung, indicating slightly progressive infections. Given his medical history and the auxiliary examination results, he was clearly diagnosed as COVID-19. Subsequently, the man accepted an antiviral strategy including arbidol, lopinavir and ritonavir prior to an reexamination of CT scan showing significantly reduced lung inflammation and few linear opacities. He was tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 NATs twice (with a sampling interval of at least 1 day). His body temperature turned to normal for more than 3 days, and respiratory symptoms were significantly ameliorated. All this met the discharge criteria, so he was discharged on February 7. The imaging features of chest CT scans were shown in Figure 3.
2.4.3 Case 3 of progressive severe symptoms from mild symptoms
A 53-year-old female who was a permanent resident in Wuhan and visited her relatives in Guizhou on January 21 complained of cough with phlegm for 4 days and was admitted to our hospital. She reported a history of contacts with cough patients, and gradually developed cough with green (purulent) sputum. She reported no fever or other discomforts, but a history of hypertension and diabetes. After oral antibiotic therapy at home took no effect, she came to our hospital for diagnosis and better treatment. The physical examination showed the presence of bibasilar moist crackles. The chest CT scan revealed multiple patchy high-density shadows in the right and life lower lobes. The SARS-CoV-2 NAT for the first time showed negative results. During the hospital stay, she had fever with the highest temperature of 38℃. The SARS-CoV-2 NAT for the second time showed positive results. The reexamination of chest CT scan indicated progressive infections. Laboratory examinations showed that the white blood cell count and lymphocyte count were 4.36×109/L and 1.05×109/L. So she was confirmed as COVID-19 with mild symptoms. The patient received lopinavir and ritonavir, recombinant human interferon, lianhua qingwen granules, xuebijing injection for anti-inflammation therapy, and thymalfasin for immunity enhancement. However, her symptoms could not be relieved after a series of treatments, and she still complained of muscular soreness, fatigue, a lack of appetite, and diarrhea. The oxygen saturation decreased to the lowest level 86% (without oxygen inhalation). The chest CT reexamination indicated progressive infections, and laboratory examinations showed a lower lymphocyte count than before, and that the CRP level was 42.55 mg/L, the IL-6 level was 34.69 pg/ml, the D-dimer level was 1.61 μg/ml and the lactic acid level was 3.2 mmol/L, which were higher than previous levels. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed as severe COVID-19 and transferred to the ICU for intensive care. She additionally and successively received oseltamivir, arbidol and ribavirin as antiretroviral therapy, methylprednisolone for anti-inflammation, gamma globulin for immunity enhancement, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for invigorating spleen-stomach and replenishing qi. Besides, high-flow oxygen inhalation was adopted for assisted respiration, and symptomatic and supportive treatment was employed. After the mentioned treatments, her symptoms were ameliorated and laboratory indices were reduced. The chest CT reexamination showed reduced inflammation, and SARS-CoV-2 NATs returned negative twice. All this met the discharge criteria, so she was discharged on February 17. The overall length of hospital stay was 18 days. Her imaging features of chest CT scans were shown in Figure 4.
2.4.4 Case 4: a critical patient who finally died even after plasmapheresis and ECMO therapy
A 33-year-old male who had a trip to Wuhan on January 15 began to have fever and cough along with fatigue and muscular soreness after his return on January 21. He complained of cough with fever for more than 10 days and was admitted to a local hospital. He had a history of hypertension. After the young man visited the local hospital in Guizhou, the chest CT scan was performed on January 22 and showed ground-glass opacity and exudative lesions in both lungs. The SARS-CoV-2 NAT was positive. So he was diagnosed as COVID-19 and received lopinavir and ritonavir for antiviral treatment and other symptomatic treatments. On the contrary, his conditions were worsening, and he began to have hyperpyrexia (the highest temperature of 39℃) with diarrhea, dyspnea (a respiratory rate of 43 breaths/min) and a decreasing oxygen saturation to 76%. To rescue him from danger, on January 31, he was transferred to the ICU with an negative pressure environment at our hospital for intensive care. Laboratory examination results returned as follows: WBC of 22.15×109/L, the proportion of neutrophils of 91.7%, the lymphocyte count of 1.12×109/L, the procalcitonin level of 2.83 ng/ml, the IL-6 level of 23.01 pg/ml, the CRP level of 246.2mg/L, the CK level of 439.32 U/L, the CK-MB level of 49. 0 U/L, the LDH level of 855.0 U/L and the D-dimer level of 1.31 μg/ml. The bedside chest CT imaging was performed on January 31 and showed large-scare patchy and high-density shadows with unclear borders and obscure lung markings. He received lopinavir, ritonavir, arbidol and α-interferon for antiviral treatment, meropenem combined with moxifloxacin for anti-infection treatment, methylprednisolone, and immune globulin and xuebijing injection for anti-inflammatory treatment, along with albumin for the correction of hypoalbuminemia, as well as sedation and analgesia. However, even with the trachea cannula and assisted invasive mechanical ventilation (inhalation of pure oxygen), his oxygen saturation (65-70%) could not be increased. He then had the presences of type I respiratory failure (T1RF), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) especially in the kidney, lungs and peripheral circulation system over time. After discussions with experts in our hospital, extracorporeal membrane oxygenatio (ECMO) was used (pulse amplitude range 3500-4100 rpm, 4.0-5.3 L/min, Fi02 100%), along with plasmapheresis. With these treatments, his symptoms were improved and his oxygen saturation was increased (92-99%). Laboratory test results returned and indicated decreased levels of indices and the recovery of renal function. The bedside chest CT scan performed on February 3 showed reduced exudation in both lungs. The young man was in better conditions. He received blood transfusion for correcting anemia. However, the blood test on February 4 showed that the Hb level was 61 g/L, which was decreasing. Then massive pleural effusion was found during careful examinations, so the thoracic close drainage was performed and a large volume of bloody pleural fluid was removed. This was considered to be induced by complications of ECMO treatment. Afterward, the patient appeared unstable circulation and haemorrhagic shock. After the drainage tube was clamped, he received the transfusion of leukocyte-depleted red blood cells for blood supplement, and of fresh apheresis platelets, fresh-frozen plasma, cryoprecipitates, factor VII and fibrinogen complexes for improving the coagulation function and reducing bleeding. Even with these proactive managements, his vital signs were still unstable. After an emergent meeting with experts, bedside thoracoscopic exploration and hemostatic therapy were carried out, simultaneously with emergency rescue and preparations for surgery. Nonetheless, cardiac arrest occurred in the young adult at 01:50 a.m. on February 5. The heart rate and blood pressure could not be measured, and main pulse disappeared. The ECG showed a flat line. The young man was declared clinically dead even after a series of rescue measures. The causes of death were as follows: (1) critical COVID-19, (2) severe ARDS, (3) acute respiratory failure (severe), (4) hemorrhagic pleural effusion on the left side, (5) hypovolemic shock, (6) MODS in the coagulation, respiratory and circulation systems and the kidney, and (7) severe anemia.The imaging features of chest CT scans were shown in Figure 5.