Viral Load Dynamics in Patients Infected with SARS-CoV-2

Patients with severe COVID-19 shed virus longer and in higher copy numbers.

To date, little is known about viral dynamics during COVID-19 infection and how they relate to the clinical course and infectivity of patients. Two recent investigations shed some light on this issue.

Chinese researchers measured SARS-CoV-2 RNA in serial samples (1846 respiratory, 842 stool, 629 serum) from 96 patients (median age, 55 years) admitted for COVID-19 between January 19 and February 15, 2020. Twenty-two patients had mild disease, and 74 had severe disease (30 of the 74 were critically ill). Respiratory samples were positive in 95% of patients in the first week after symptom onset and 54% in the fourth week and were negative thereafter in all patients. Patients with mild disease had positive respiratory samples for a median of 14 …

Reviewing Author

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Viral Load Dynamics in Patients Infected with SARS-CoV-2

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Reviewing Author