Prolonged presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in faecal samples
Yongjian Wu,Cheng Guo,Lantian Tang,Zhongsi Hong,Jianhui Zhou,Xin Dong
Published:March 19, 2020DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-1253(20)30083-2
We present severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) real-time RT-PCR results of all respiratory and faecal samples from patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China, throughout the course of their illness and obligated quarantine period. Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect COVID-19 following the recommended protocol (appendix p 1). Patients with suspected SARS-CoV-2 were confirmed after two sequential positive respiratory tract sample results. Respiratory and faecal samples were collected every 1–2 days (depending on the availability of faecal samples) until two sequential negative results were obtained. We reviewed patients' demographic information, underlying diseases, clinical indices, and treatments from their official medical records. The study was approved by the Medical Ethical Committee of The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (approval number K162-1) and informed consent was obtained from participants. Notably, patients who met discharge criteria were allowed to stay in hospital for extended observation and health care.