Case Report: Prolonged Viral Shedding in Six COVID-19 Patients.
Am J Trop Med Hyg
; 104(4): 1472-1475, 2021 02 24.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1100281
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 has surfaced as a multi-organ disease predominantly affecting the respiratory system. Detection of the viral RNA through reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) from a nasopharyngeal or throat sample is the preferred method of diagnosis. Recent evidence has suggested that COVID-19 patients can shed the SARS-CoV-2 for several weeks. Herein, we report six cases of COVID-19 who had persistently positive SARS-CoV-2 on repeat RT-PCR testing reaching up to 9 weeks. The spectrum of cases described ranges from asymptomatic infection to severe COVID-19 pneumonia. A full understanding of the virus's transmission dynamics needs further research. Prolonged viral shedding currently has unclear implications on the management and isolation decisions-the role of the cycle threshold (Ct) value in guiding therapeutic decisions is yet to be clarified. More data on the relationship between Ct values and viral cultivation are needed, especially in patients with prolonged viral shedding, to understand the virus's viability and infectivity.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Virus Shedding
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Case report
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
/
Young adult
Language:
English
Journal:
Am J Trop Med Hyg
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Ajtmh.20-0933
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