Long-term shedding of viable SARS-CoV-2 in kidney transplant recipients with COVID-19 |
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| Authors: | Ilies Benotmane Simone Risch Cécile Doderer-Lang Sophie Caillard Samira Fafi-Kremer |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France;2. Department of Virology, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France;3. UR7292 Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Diseases of Strasbourg, Strasbourg University, Strasbourg, France |
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| Abstract: | The exact duration of viable SARS-CoV-2 shedding in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) remains unclear. Here, we retrospectively investigated this issue using cell cultures of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR-positive nasopharyngeal samples (n = 40) obtained from 16 KTRs with symptomatic COVID-19 up to 39 days from symptom onset. A length of viable SARS-CoV-2 shedding >3 weeks from the onset of symptoms was identified in four KTRs (25%). These results suggest that a significant proportion of KTRs can shed viable SARS-CoV-2 for at least 3 weeks, which may favor the emergence of new variants. Based on these data, we recommend prolonging the isolation of KTRs with COVID-19 until negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing. |
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| Keywords: | clinical research/practice complication: infectious infection and infectious agents - viral infectious disease kidney transplantation/nephrology translational research/science |
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