A case of extremely prolonged viral shedding: Could cell cultures be a diagnostic tool to drive COVID-19 patient discharge?

Davide Mileto; Antonella Foschi; Alessandro Mancon; Stefania Merli; Federica Staurenghi; Laura Pezzati; Alberto Rizzo; Federico Conti; Francesca Romeri; Dario Bernacchia; Rachele Meroni; Giuliano Rizzardini; Maria Rita Gismondo; Valeria Micheli

doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2020.11.161

A case of extremely prolonged viral shedding: Could cell cultures be a diagnostic tool to drive COVID-19 patient discharge?

Int J Infect Dis. 2021 Mar:104:631-633. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.11.161. Epub 2020 Nov 20.

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Virology and Bioemergencies, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: davide.mileto@asst-fbf-sacco.it.
² Department of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy.
³ Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Virology and Bioemergencies, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy.
⁴ Department of Internal Medicine, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy.

Abstract

This study addressed the case of a patient with prolonged COVID-19 viral shedding, reported by Real-Time PCR, until 71 days from symptom onset. However, viral culture received negative results after 30 days from symptom onset. Therefore, viral culture may be a worthwhile test for patients requiring discharge, in particular for those presenting prolonged viral shedding.

Keywords: COVID-19; RT-PCR; SARS-CoV-2; Serology; Viral culture.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aged, 80 and over
COVID-19 / virology*
Cell Culture Techniques
Humans
Male
Patient Discharge
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
SARS-CoV-2 / isolation & purification*
Time Factors
Virus Shedding*