Abstract
The recent outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, has become a global threat. Due to neurological manifestations presented throughout the coronavirus disease process, the potential involvement of COVID-19 in central nervous system has attracted considerable attention. Notably, the neurologic system could be widely affected, with various complications such as acute cerebrovascular events, encephalitis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and acute necrotizing hemorrhagic encephalopathy. However, the risk assessment of exposure to potential biohazards in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic has not been clearly clarified regarding the sampling, preparation, and processing neurological specimens. Further risk managements and implantations are seldom discussed either. This article aims to provide current recommendations and evidence-based reviews on biosafety issues of preparation and processing of cerebrospinal fluid and neurological specimens with potential coronavirus infection from the bedside to the laboratory.
Highlights
The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, an illness with the high transmissibility and a broad spectrum of clinical manifestation
COVID-19 is the third epidemic of human coronavirus diseases after the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in November 2002, and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in September 2012 [2]
COVID-19 primarily presents as a respiratory disease, SARS-CoV-2 affects multiple organs or systems, including the central nervous system (CNS), peripheral nervous system (PNS), and neuromuscular system [15, 18,19,20]
Summary
The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, an illness with the high transmissibility and a broad spectrum of clinical manifestation. Since symptoms of COVID19 can be in a wide variety of severity, medical professionals are in particular at risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 through close contact via respiratory droplets and contaminated surface and direct handling of contagious materials from patients with COVID-19 [7]. The biosafety and risk assessment in preparation and processing of CSF and other neurological specimens were seldom discussed. This mini-review aims to provide an integrative, evidence-based review to guide the preparation and processing of neurological specimens with potential coronavirus infection and to prevent nosocomial infection
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