Korean J Intern Med.  2020 Jul;35(4):793-796. 10.3904/kjim.2020.203.

Persistent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 detection after resolution of coronavirus disease 2019-associated symptoms/signs

• Park SY
• Yun SG
• Shin JW
• Lee BY
• Son HJ
• Lee S
• Lee E
• Kim TH

• KMID: 2504170
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2020.203

Abstract

There are limited data on the duration of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in respiratory specimens after resolution of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated symptoms/signs. We determined duration of SARS-CoV-2 virus shedding in symptomatic patients after remission of symptoms. We investigated the duration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs or sputum or saliva. Six patients were included in the final analysis. The median (range) duration of SARS-CoV-2 viral detection after hospitalization was 34 days (22 to 67). After resolution of symptoms/signs, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected for median (range) of 26 days (9 to 48). Among the six patients, one had persistent detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA until day 67 of hospitalization, which was 30 days after symptom resolution. This case represents the longest duration of SARS-CoV-2 detection, and highlights the need for long-term follow up of COVID-19 patients despite resolution of symptoms to confirm SARS-CoV-2 clearance.

Keyword

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; COVID-19; Virus shedding