CHEST Guidelines-Differences-of-Severe-Acute-Respiratory-Syndrome-C

Differences-of-Severe-Acute-Respiratory-Syndrome-C

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The study examines the duration of SARS-CoV-2 shedding in nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) and sputum specimens from COVID-19 patients and identifies factors associated with prolonged shedding. Conducted in Wuhan, China, researchers collected data from 68 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, analyzing viral RNA detection during hospitalization. The median duration of viral shedding was found to be 19 days from NPSs and 34 days from sputum specimens, with elderly patients showing prolonged shedding. Sputum specimens retained detectable virus longer than NPSs, suggesting potential implications for prolonged disease transmission.<br /><br />Key findings include that 70.6% of patients tested positive for viral RNA via NPSs, while 44.1% tested positive via sputum. Additionally, in nine cases, sputum specimens remained positive after NPS specimens turned negative. Chronic lung disease, steroid use, and diabetes were risk factors associated with persistent viral detection. <br /><br />The study highlights the limitations of NPS testing alone for determining patient discharge, as sputum may yield a higher viral RNA detection rate. The findings suggest that combining NPS with sputum analysis may improve diagnosis and management of COVID-19, especially since longer viral shedding in the lower respiratory tract could imply extended transmission periods. Moreover, the study emphasizes the need for careful consideration of elderly patients who may experience prolonged virus shedding.<br /><br />Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and other grants, this research provides insights into optimizing COVID-19 management strategies by demonstrating the variability in virus shedding duration and its dependence on factors like age and underlying health conditions. The study underscores the importance of comprehensive testing to prevent COVID-19 transmission effectively.

Keywords

SARS-CoV-2 shedding

nasopharyngeal swabs

sputum specimens

COVID-19 transmission

viral RNA detection

prolonged shedding

elderly patients

risk factors

diagnosis and management

China study