Key result
A 21-year-old trauma patient exhibits prolonged SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding for 95 days.
Case Report (n=1)
No
Prolonged SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding can occur in immunocompetent individuals recovering from severe trauma, highlighting the need for case-by-case evaluation using Ct values and rapid antigen tests to assess infectiousness.
Prolonged shedding post-trauma may warrant cautious infectiousness assessment; case report leaves generalizability and practice change open.
We describe a case of prolonged SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding in an HIV-negative 21-year-old man recovering from abdominal and thoracic trauma. Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs collected at 12 time points over a 95-day span all tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Genotyping revealed canonical beta-variant E484K and N501Y mutations at earlier time points. Human rhinovirus, coronavirus NL63 and respiratory syncytial virus B were detected at different time points by RT-PCR. Full blood analysis at time point 9 (day 82) showed leukopenia with lymphocytosis. The patient's NP swab tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR 101 days after the first positive test. The prolonged duration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding in the context of trauma presented here is unique and has important implications for COVID-19 diagnosis, management and policy guidelines.
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Umunnakw et al. (2022) conducted a case report in Prolonged SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding (n=1). SARS-CoV-2 infection with concurrent severe trauma was evaluated on Duration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding. An HIV-negative 21-year-old man recovering from abdominal and thoracic trauma exhibited prolonged SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding, testing positive by RT-PCR for 95 days.
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