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Article

Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Re-Detected on PCR Test after Discharge from Isolation

by
Abdullah J. Alsahafi
1,
Manal M. Al Daajani
1,
Ahmed A. Osman
2,*,
Abdulhamed L. Moawwad
1,
Abdullah M. Algarni
1,
Ibrahim M. Asiri
1,
Wadea O. Nofal
1 and
Rayan M. Alselami
1
1
Public Health Department, Jeddah Health Affairs Directorate, Ministry of Health, Jeddah 21577, Saudi Arabia
2
Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, Faculty of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24243, Saudi Arabia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Clin. Pract. 2021, 11(4), 954-960; https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract11040110
Submission received: 25 October 2021 / Revised: 15 December 2021 / Accepted: 15 December 2021 / Published: 18 December 2021

Abstract

There have been multiple reports of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) after discharge; however, information on the characteristics of such cases is limited. In this case report, we aimed to identify clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients who had a repeat positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for SARS-CoV-2. We analyzed data of 22 COVID-19 patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing after two consecutive negative PCR results following discharge from hospitals. The interval between the two positive tests in the episodes of COVID-19 ranged from 4 to 117 days. More than one-third of the cases were healthcare workers (HCWs) and one-third of them had comorbidities. The main symptoms were cough and fever, and we noticed that males experienced more symptoms and signs of COVID-19 than females. Individuals with repeat SARS-CoV-2 positivity tend to experience milder illness during the second episode than the first episode. To confirm the reinfection of SARS-CoV-2, the results of other tests, such as viral culture and immunological assays of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM), need to be considered. Recovered COVID-19 patients should continue social distancing, using face masks, and practicing hand hygiene, especially HCWs who are more likely to be exposed to SARS-CoV-2.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; real-time polymerase chain reaction; repeat positive SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; real-time polymerase chain reaction; repeat positive

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MDPI and ACS Style

Alsahafi, A.J.; Al Daajani, M.M.; Osman, A.A.; Moawwad, A.L.; Algarni, A.M.; Asiri, I.M.; Nofal, W.O.; Alselami, R.M. Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Re-Detected on PCR Test after Discharge from Isolation. Clin. Pract. 2021, 11, 954-960. https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract11040110

AMA Style

Alsahafi AJ, Al Daajani MM, Osman AA, Moawwad AL, Algarni AM, Asiri IM, Nofal WO, Alselami RM. Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Re-Detected on PCR Test after Discharge from Isolation. Clinics and Practice. 2021; 11(4):954-960. https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract11040110

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alsahafi, Abdullah J., Manal M. Al Daajani, Ahmed A. Osman, Abdulhamed L. Moawwad, Abdullah M. Algarni, Ibrahim M. Asiri, Wadea O. Nofal, and Rayan M. Alselami. 2021. "Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Re-Detected on PCR Test after Discharge from Isolation" Clinics and Practice 11, no. 4: 954-960. https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract11040110

APA Style

Alsahafi, A. J., Al Daajani, M. M., Osman, A. A., Moawwad, A. L., Algarni, A. M., Asiri, I. M., Nofal, W. O., & Alselami, R. M. (2021). Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Re-Detected on PCR Test after Discharge from Isolation. Clinics and Practice, 11(4), 954-960. https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract11040110

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