Clinical illness with viable severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus presenting 72 days after infection in an immunocompromised patient

Carly M. Hughes, Gareth P. Gregory, Anna B. Pierce, Julian D. Druce, Mike Catton, Brian Chong, Norelle L. Sherry, Maryza Graham, Melissa Chen, Ross Salvaris, Nicole Eise, Jean Y.H. Lee, Zoe McQuilten, Simon Crouch, Clare Looker, Tony M. Korman, Rhonda L. Stuart

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterOtherpeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We present a case of late symptom onset of COVID-19 infection 72 days after initial diagnosis in an immunocompromised 53-year-old man. SARS-CoV-2 was cultured from his sputum sample at this time, and genomic sequencing suggested reinfection was unlikely. After receipt of convalescent plasma, SARS-CoV-2 became undetectable by PCR 111 days after diagnosis, although SARS-CoV-2 antibodies remained not detectable. This case posed difficult public health management issues in a low prevalence COVID-19 setting as the person required extended home isolation given his prolonged SARS-CoV-2 PCR detection.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)820-822
Number of pages3
JournalInfection Control & Hospital Epidemiology
Volume43
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 19 Jun 2022

Keywords

  • immunocompromise
  • public health
  • SARS-CoV-2

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