Host susceptibility to MERS-CoV infection, a retrospective cohort study of the 2015 Korean MERS outbreak

J Infect Chemother. 2018 Feb;24(2):150-152. doi: 10.1016/j.jiac.2017.09.008. Epub 2017 Dec 6.

Abstract

To evaluate host susceptibility factors to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, we conducted a retrospective cohort study from the single largest exposure event of the 2015 Korean MERS outbreak. A total of 175 patients were closely exposed to a super-spreader, 26 of which were infected (14.9%). In a multivariate analysis, history of autologous stem cell transplantation (HR, 31.151; 95% CI, 5.447-178.145; P < 0.001) and tachypnea at ED (HR, 4.392; 95% CI, 1.402-13.761; P = 0.011) were significantly associated with MERS-CoV infection.

Keywords: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus; Stem cell transplantation; Susceptibility; Tachypnea.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cohort Studies
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology*
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Disease Susceptibility / epidemiology
  • Disease Susceptibility / virology
  • Female
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / isolation & purification*
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Tachypnea / epidemiology
  • Tachypnea / virology
  • Transplantation, Autologous