Virological and Immunological Monitoring in Patients (suspected Of/confirmed With) COVID-19

Virological and Immunological Monitoring in Patients (suspected Of/confirmed With) COVID-19

This study is a prospective, observational multicentric study. The study population entails adult patients hospitalized with a high clinical suspicion of COVID-19 and consists of two study arms (SARS-CoV2- vs. SARS-CoV2+).This combined fundamental research project has a dual goal: on the one hand assessing immunological predisposing factors for severe infection and investigating the immunological impact of SARS-CoV2 infection, on the other hand studying viral characteristics. Furthermore, a substudy will examine the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of hydroxychloroquine in patients receiving this antiviral treatment (REVIVE susbstudy). To answer these research questions, samples will be collected from patients with a high clinical suspicion of COVID-19, hospitalized at UZ Gent and 2 participating hospitals in Ghent (AZ Maria Middelares en AZ Jan Palfijn).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Upper or lower respiratory symptoms and temperature ≥37.5°C, with high clinical suspicion of COVID-19
• Requiring hospitalization

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known pregnancy at the time of screening
• Inability to give informed consent or absence of legal representative who can give informed consent.