Anal swab findings in an infant with COVID‐19
Qihong Fan, Yan Pan, Qingcui Wu, Shan Liu, Song Xu, Zhongguo Xie, Yang Liu, Liang Zhao, Zhonghong Wang, Yifei Zhang, Zu-Chuang Wu, Lei Guan, Xiao-Long Lv
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The transmission pathways of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remain not completely clear. In this case study the test for the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in pharyngeal swab and anal swab were compared. CASE PRESENTATION: A 3-month-old girl was admitted to our hospital with COVID-19. Her parents had both been diagnosed with COVID-19. The results of pharyngeal swab and anal swab of the little girl were recorded and compared during the course of the disease. The oropharyngeal specimen showed negative result for SARS-CoV-2 on the 14th day after onset of the illness. However, the anal swab was still positive for SARS-CoV-2 on the 28th day after the onset of the illness. CONCLUSION: The possibility of fecal-oral transmission of COVID-19 should be assessed. Personal hygiene during home quarantine merits considerable attention.