A new positive SARS-CoV-2 test months after severe COVID-19 illness: reinfection or intermittent viral shedding?
Jessica Tuan, Anne Spichler-Moffarah, Onyema Ogbuagu
Abstract
We present a case of a patient who had a history of severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) 4 months prior to this current presentation and, after a long asymptomatic period, subsequently tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) by a RNA PCR assay, after several interval negative SARS-CoV-2 RNA tests. We present this potential case of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection in order to incite discussion around differentiating persistent infection with intermittent viral shedding and reinfection, as well as to discuss evolving knowledge and approaches to the clinical management, follow-up molecular testing and treatment of COVID-19 reinfection.
Topics & Concepts
Viral sheddingAsymptomaticCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)CoronavirusVirologyMedicine2019-20 coronavirus outbreakImmunologyDiseaseVirusInternal medicineInfectious disease (medical specialty)OutbreakSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchSARS-CoV-2 detection and testingCOVID-19 Clinical Research Studies