Highlights Laboratory diagnostic parameters in symptomatic Covid19 disease patients. Monocyte distribution width and monocyte modification in infection disease and sepsis. SARS COV2 infection, prognosis in severe respiratory failure with multiple organ failure, clinical and laboratory finding.

Background Since February 2020, Italian hospitals registered COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease 19) cases more often than the rest of the Europe. During this epidemic, health authorities requested swab tests, while seeking new patient paths. Methods A dual laboratory approach was evaluated, consisting of patient care reports for viral RNA detection on swabs and rapid serological tests in 516 patients (192 symptomatic or paucisymptomatic and 324 asymptomatic). Results We found the molecular positive fraction equal to 12% (23/192) among symptomatic/paucisymptomatic (S/P) and 15.4% (50/324) in asymptomatic (As) sets. Among subsets, we observed serologically positive results, corresponding to 35% (8/23) for S/P and 38% (19/50) for As. Among molecular negative cases, we detected specific Immunoglobulin G or M (Ig G or Ig M) positivity in the S/P cohort equal to 6.6% (11/167) and 6% (15/246) in As cases. For indeterminate molecular results, we found S/P serological positivity equal to 100% (1/1) and 54% (13/24) in As patients. We found higher (p < 0.05) seropositivity in older patients (n = 8) among symptomatic and positives for viral RNA (n.23). Conclusions It has been observed that a dual approach of serological and molecular tests detects a higher absolute number of disease cases in a pandemic context,which could improve monitoring and health surveillance efficacy. The age-related seropositivity frequency in this study, if confirmed, could enhance the validity of serological tests, especially in older patients.In these subjects, molecular positivity accompanied by serological positivity (distinct for M and G immunoglobulins) should help determine disease status and support decisions related to patient management.

Aims: The objective of this work was to study the distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes and subtypes from 2010 to 2015 in 1,221 anti-HCV/HCV-RNA-positive specimens from patients living in the metropolitan area of Naples, since HCV genotypes and subtypes remain cornerstones in the management of chronic HCV infection even in the directly acting antivirals era. Methods: The study was carried out on 1,221 anti-HCV/HCV-RNA-positive plasma samples collected between April 2010 and December 2015. Results: Of the 1,221 patients enrolled, 633 (51.9%) were males and 588 (48.1%) were females, with a mean age of 60 ± 13 (SD) years. The most frequent HCV genotype observed was genotype 1 (68.1%; 1b in 55.3% and 1a in 9.5%); HCV genotype 2 was found in 289 samples (23.67%), genotype 3 in 6.47%, genotype 4 in only 19 samples, and only 2 samples were classified as genotype 5. The mean age of the patients with genotype 1a or 3 was lower (51 ± 12 and 49 ± 12 years, respectively) than those with genotype 1b (62 ± 11, p < 0.0001 for both) or 2 (62 ± 14, p < 0.0001 for both). Conclusions: The data from the present study suggest that HCV genotype 1b remains the most prevalent in this area, followed by genotype 2, 1a, and 3a.