Temporal evolution of the Cuban COVID-19 diagnostic protocol and its particularities. Matanzas
Keywords:
coronavirus; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; diagnosis; protocolAbstract
Introduction: COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The World Health Organization declared it an international health emergency due to its rapid spread. For its diagnosis, different techniques were used: real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests, antigen identification tests, and serological tests. In Cuba, the diagnostic protocol, despite undergoing modifications throughout the pandemic, has always considered the confirmation of cases when the RT-PCR was positive. In the province of Matanzas, modifications were implemented between July and August 2021, shifting to confirmation via both PCR and rapid tests, a protocol also used by other countries.
Objective: To contribute to the theoretical knowledge of the evolution of the COVID-19 diagnostic protocol in Matanzas.
Methods: A literature review was carried out through the websites of the World and the Pan American Health Organizations, the Google Scholar search engine, and the PubMed, SciELO, and Scopus databases. Additionally, official documents from the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) were reviewed.
Results: On July 8, the notification of cases confirmed both by PCR and rapid tests began in Matanzas, with 3,559 confirmed cases reported. On that day, Cuba reported 6,422, and the province represented 55.4% of the total.
Conclusions: The changes to the protocol, only applied in Matanzas, influenced the increase in case detection, followed by a rapid reduction, and as a consequence impacted the timeliness of diagnosis, case isolation, and immediate treatment.
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