A few studies explored patients with potential severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reinfection in the United States during May–July 2020. The researchers conducted case finding for patients with potential SARS-CoV-2 reinfection through the Emerging Infections Network. Cases registered were screened for laboratory and clinical findings of potential reinfection, and then requests for medical records and laboratory specimens were followed. Available medical records were engrossed to set apart patient demographics, comorbidities, clinical course, and laboratory test results. Submitted specimens were subjected to further testing, including reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), viral culture, whole-genome sequencing, subgenomic RNA PCR, and testing for anti-SARS-CoV-2 total antibody. Among 73 potential reinfection patients with accessible records, 30 patients were found to have recurrent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms explained by alternative diagnoses with concurrent SARS-CoV-2 positive RT-PCR, 24 patients remained asymptomatic after healing but had recurrent or persistent RT-PCR, and 19 patients had recurrent COVID-19 symptoms with concurrent SARS-CoV-2 positive RT-PCR but no alternative diagnoses. The 19 patients were explored with symptom recurrence a median of 57 days after initial symptom onset (interquartile range: 47–76). Six patients had paired specimens available for further examination, but none had laboratory findings confirming reinfections. Testing an additional 3 patients with recurrent symptoms and alternative diagnoses also did not confirm reinfection. The study did not confirm SARS-CoV-2 reinfection within 90 days of the initial infection based on the clinical and laboratory characteristics of cases in that investigation. The research findings supported current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance around quarantine and testing for patients who have been recovered from COVID-19.
Link:academic.oup.com/cid/article/73/12/2217/6142945
