Positive rate of RT-PCR detection of SARS-CoV-2 infectionin 1850 cases from the Regional General Hospital'F. Miulli', in Apulian Region, Italy from March to April 2020

Background and Aim of the study: The COVID-19 pandemic israpidly spreading throughout the globe Recent reports suggestthat 10-30% of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients are asymptomatic Here, we reported the positive rate of COVID-19 tests supportedon RT-PCR, from March 14 to April 15 in General Hospital 'F Miulli'(South of Italy) We observed a ~18% SARS-CoV-2 positive ratefrom 912 tests Methods: The study was a retrospective study conducted in Regional General Hospital 'F Miulli' (Acquaviva delle Fonti, BA), whichwas a chosen hospital for Covid-19 patients The diagnosis ofCovid-19 was according to World Health Organization interim guidance and confirmed by RNA detection of the SARS-CoV-2 in onsiteclinical laboratory Results: Nasopharyngeal swabs showed poor positive rate in 912cases, 163 out of 912 (17 9%) were positive by RT-PCR test withtheir respiratory specimens Among this, 92 8% were positive forall the three target genes Male had a higher positive rate than female in the total 912 cases The male patients are 107, femaleare 56 The Positive Rate were significantly higher in male than infemale cases (p 70) and 30 8% (age 50-59) Gender and age are two risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection Conclusions: Therefore, consistent with other reports, we couldconclude that for suspect SARS-CoV-2 infection, positive percentage would be higher in male and old, but in Fever Clinics, genderwas not a risk factor