SARS-CoV-2 –RNA persists longer in faecal sample as compared to nasal and throat swab samples of COVID-19 patients’; an observational study

AimsLittle known about five months old Coronavirus also called as SARS-CoV-2; causing pandemic and health crises worldwide. As the current literature documents, the presence of SARS-CoV-RNA in pulmonary and extra-pulmonary clinical samples such as blood, urine and faeces, but still the route of transmission of this new COVID-19 virus is ambiguous.Setting& Design: To study the SARS-CoV-RNA shedding pattern in various clinical samples of COVID-19 patients.Methods& Material: We studied nine SARS CoV-2-RNA positive cases admitted in tertiary care hospital of Uttar Pradesh, North India and followed it for four weeks.ResultsSARS-CoV-RNA was detected in nasal swab (NS), throat swab (TS) and faecal sample but was not detected in serum and urine samples. The trend of clearance of SARS-CoV-2-RNA from clinical samples was first from throat swab, than nasal swab and last from stool sample.ConclusionsPersistence of faecal RNA might impose challenge in infection control and the disease may spread by household contacts if discharged. Thus, COVID-19 Patients showing RNA clearance from nasal and throat swab sample should be advised strictly to follow personal hygiene precautions. Perineal cleaning and hygiene may be advised at the time of vaginal delivery.