Persistent SARS-CoV-2-positive over 4 months in a COVID-19 patient with CHB

• Main Authors: Li Wenyuan, Huang Beibei, Shen Qiang, Jiang Shouwei, Jin Kun, Ning Ling, Liu Lei, Li Lei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: De Gruyter 2021-05-01
• Series: Open Medicine
• Subjects: covid-19; sars-cov-2; convalescence; coronavirus; case report
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1515/med-2021-0283

In recent months, the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a major public health crisis with takeover more than 1 million lives worldwide. The long-lasting existence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has not yet been reported. Herein, we report a case of SARS-CoV-2 infection with intermittent viral polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive for >4 months after clinical rehabilitation. A 35-year-old male was diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia with fever but without other specific symptoms. The treatment with lopinavir-ritonavir, oxygen inhalation, and other symptomatic supportive treatment facilitated recovery, and the patient was discharged. However, his viral PCR test was continually positive in oropharyngeal swabs for >4 months after that. At the end of June 2020, he was still under quarantine and observation. The contribution of current antivirus therapy might be limited. The prognosis of COVID-19 patients might be irrelevant to the virus status. Thus, further investigation to evaluate the contagiousness of convalescent patients and the mechanism underlying the persistent existence of SARS-CoV-2 after recovery is essential. A new strategy of disease control, especially extending the follow-up period for recovered COVID-19 patients, is necessary to adapt to the current situation of pandemic.