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Long‐term shedding of viable SARS‐CoV‐2 in kidney transplant recipients with COVID‐19
Author(s) -
Benotmane Ilies,
Risch Simone,
DodererLang Cécile,
Caillard Sophie,
FafiKremer Samira
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
american journal of transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1600-6143
pISSN - 1600-6135
DOI - 10.1111/ajt.16636
Subject(s) - medicine , covid-19 , viral shedding , kidney transplant , kidney transplantation , isolation (microbiology) , virology , kidney , virus , disease , bioinformatics , infectious disease (medical specialty) , biology , outbreak
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.