The challenge of asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19: A rapid review of literature

• Published in: Revista de salud pública (Bogotá, Colombia) Vol. 22; no. 6; pp. 649 - 657
• Main Authors: Albavera-Hernández, Cidronio, Rodríguez-Hernández, Jorge M, Piñeros-Garzón, Flor S, Montoya-Sanabria, Sandra M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Colombia Universidad Nacional de Colombia 01.11.2020; Instituto de Salud Publica, Facultad de Medicina - Universidad Nacional de Colombia
• Subjects: Asymptomatic; Asymptomatic Diseases - epidemiology; Carrier State - epidemiology; Carrier State - prevention & control; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; Disease transmission; Epidemiology; Health care; Health policy; Humans; Interfaces; Literature reviews; Pandemics; Pediatrics; Public health; PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH; COVID-19; prevention and control (source: MeSH, NLM); Infecciones por coronavirus; SARS-CoV-2; carrier state; virus del SARS; portado sano; prevención & control (fuente: DeCS, BIREME)
• ISSN: 0124-0064; 2539-3596
• DOI: 10.15446/RSAP.V22N6.91181

To describe the epidemiological and sociodemographic characteristics of asymptomatic carriers reported in the literature, and to review the strategies used for diagnosis and control. Systematic literature review approach. As inclusion criteria, all studies published between January 1 and June 26, 2020, conducted in humans, that reported people who remained asymptomatic of COVID-19. Descriptors were adapted to the interfaces of eight bibliographic databases were configured: PubMed, Ovid, SciELO, Ebsco, Scopus, LILACS, Epistemonikos and Embase. About 45% of the articles reported adult population, thirteen reported mixed population (adult and pediatric). 3 525 asymptomatic people were reported, with an average of 37,1 years [0.5-82 years]. Although the effectiveness of the control and prevention measures was not reported, the identification, isolation and follow-up of contacts stands out as a potential effective mechanism to prevent the transmission. The use of this information could be relevant to guide evidence-based public health policies and the protection of populations and the improvement of health care that contributes to stopping this pandemic.