Title Prolonged SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding in a young man recovering from traumatic pneumothorax.
Author Umunnakwe, C N; Makatini, Z N; Mdunyelwa, A; Mphanga, M; Nijhuis, M; Wensing, A; Tempelman, H A
Journal S Afr Med J Publication Year/Month 2022-Feb
PMID 35139987 PMCID -N/A-
Affiliation 1.Ndlovu Laboratories, Elandsdoorn, Limpopo Province, South Africa; Ndlovu Research Consortium, Elandsdoorn, Limpopo Province, South Africa. cumunnakwe@ndlovu.com.

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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