Complicaciones del frotis nasofaríngeo en el diagnóstico de sospecha de COVID-19
[EN]Introduction and objectives: The most sensitive direct diagnostic test for COVID-19 involves collecting nasopharyngeal swab samples for subsequent analysis using RT-PCR. Nevertheless, this technique is invasive, requiring adequate training of the personnel responsible for its execution and is no...
| Autores: | , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universidad de Salamanca (USAL) |
| Repositorio: | GREDOS. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Salamanca |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:gredos.usal.es:10366/170478 |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/10366/170478 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | COVID-19 nasopharynx nasopharyngeal swab diagnosis complications nasofaringe hisopo nasofaríngeo diagnóstico complicaciones |
| Sumario: | [EN]Introduction and objectives: The most sensitive direct diagnostic test for COVID-19 involves collecting nasopharyngeal swab samples for subsequent analysis using RT-PCR. Nevertheless, this technique is invasive, requiring adequate training of the personnel responsible for its execution and is not without potential adverse effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the complications associated with nasopharyngeal swab sampling in patients suspected of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: We prospectively collected complications arising from nasopharyngeal swab procedures treated in the Otorhinolaryngology Service of the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital in Santander, since the beginning of the pandemic. Results: Out of 363,070 PCR samples collected during the study period, twenty patients (0.0055 %) between the ages of 29 and 90 years experienced complications related to nasopharyngeal swab sampling for COVID-19 diagnosis. Immediate complications were observed in all cases. The most frequent one was mild to moderate epistaxis (two patients experienced repeated nosebleeds, requiring multiple visits to the emergency department), as well as swab breakage and impaction in the nasal cavity, with one case of accidental ingestion without consequences. Two patients had swabs impacted without breakage. No severe complications or subsequent sequelae were reported. Conclusions: Nasopharyngeal swab sampling is a generally safe technique when performed by adequately trained personnel with knowledge of nasal anatomy and the proper execution of the procedure. Although complications are exceptionally rare and typically mild, isolated cases of severe side effects have been documented. |
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