Clinical features of discharged COVID-19 patients with an extended SARS-CoV-2 RNA positive signal in respiratory samples

Virus Res. 2020 Sep:286:198047. doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2020.198047. Epub 2020 Jun 6.

Abstract

  1. •

    Patients may remain positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in respiratory samples for some time after hospital discharge;

  2. •

    Although this signal may represent non-infectious virus, it seems safe to quarantine recovered patients for at least two weeks;

  3. •

    Stricter criteria for hospital discharge may be warranted.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Betacoronavirus / genetics
  • Betacoronavirus / pathogenicity*
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • China / epidemiology
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques
  • Convalescence
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / transmission
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics
  • Patient Discharge / statistics & numerical data
  • Pharynx / virology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / transmission
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology*
  • Quarantine / organization & administration*
  • RNA, Viral / genetics*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Viral Load
  • Virus Shedding*

Substances

  • RNA, Viral