Clinical features and outcomes of 221 patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China

Guqin Zhang; Chang Hu; Linjie Luo; Fang Fang; Yongfeng Chen; Jianguo Li; Zhiyong Peng; Huaqin Pan

All patients were monitored for vital signs (body temperature, heart rate, pulse oxygen saturation, respiratory rate and blood pressure). Initial investigations included a complete blood count, coagulation profile, and serum biochemical test (including liver and renal function, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and electrolytes). All patients were monitored by chest x-rays or CT. Respiratory specimens, including pharyngeal swabs, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, sputum or bronchial aspirates were tested for other respiratory viruses including influenza A virus (H1N1, H7N9), influenza B virus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, and other atypical pathogens such as mycoplasma, chlamydia and legionella pneumophila, which were also examined with realtime RT-PCR. Routine bacterial and fungal examinations were also performed by conventional microbial culture techniques. Treatment strategies included: (1) effective oxygen therapy according to the severity of hypoxemia (nasal catheter/mask oxygen inhalation, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and non-invasive ventilation (NIV)), (2) supportive treatment to ensure sufficient energy intake and balance for electrolytes and acid-base levels, (3) antiviral treatment (including All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity.