A case report of recurrent SARS-CoV-2 RNA positivity after COVID-19: challenges to differentiate from reactivation and reinfection A case report of recurrent SARS-CoV-2 RNA positivity
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Abstract
Objective
Here, we report a case of recurrent SARS-CoV-2 RNA positivity and suggestions for clinicians or epidemiologists in clinical management.
Case report
A 50-year-old healthy female with no previous illnesses was tested positive for COVID-19 by RT-PCR. She presented with mild symptoms including low-grade fever, myalgia and anosmia. She was tested negative 29 days since initial positive RT-PCR test together with detectable SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody. However, on Day 42, recurrent RNA positivity was detected with no signs or symptoms of COVID-19. She was subsequently tested negative again on Day 44.
Discussion
Recurrent SARS-CoV-2 RNA positivity in this case was probably from prolonged viral shedding. This is supported by the evidence of positive antibody to SARS-CoV-2 and absence of sub-genomic E gene from further analysis. Clinicians should correlate with the patients’ clinical course, epidemiological and immunological investigations to determine the cause of recurrent viral shedding. In the absence of active replication evidence, the patients can be dismissed from re-diagnosing with COVID-19 infection and be advised to return to their normal activities.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
บทความที่พิมพ์ในวารสารสถาบันป้องกันควบคุมโรคเขตเมือง ถือว่าเป็นผลงานวิชาการ งานวิจัยและวิเคราะห์ ตลอดจนเป็นความเห็นส่วนตัวของผู้เขียนเอง ไม่ใช่ความเห็นของสถาบันป้องกันควบคุมโรคเขตเมือง หรือคณะบรรณาธิการแต่ประการใด ผู้เขียนจำต้องรับผิดชอบต่อบทความของตน
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