SARS-CoV-2 Detection in Fecal Sample from a Patient with Typical Findings of COVID-19 Pneumonia on CT but Negative to Multiple SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Tests on Oropharyngeal and Nasopharyngeal Swab Samples

RT-PCR negative results in the upper respiratory tract represent a major concern for the clinical management of COVID-19 patients. Here we report the case of a 43-years-old man with a strong clinical suspect of COVID-19, but who resulted to be negative to multiple SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests performed on different oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swabs, despite serology confirmed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 IgM. The patient underwent a chest CT that showed typical imaging findings of COVID-19 pneumonia. Presence of viral SARS-CoV-2 was confirmed only by performing SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test on stool. Performing of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test on faecal samples can be a rapid and useful approach to confirm COVID-19 diagnosis in cases where there is apparent discrepancy between COVID-19 clinical symptoms coupled with chest CT, and SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests’ results on samples from the upper respiratory tract

BROGNA Barbara;  BROGNA Carlo;  PETRILLO Mauro;  MODESTINA CONTE Adriana;  BENINCASA Giulio;  MONTANO Luigi;  PISCOPO Marina; 

2021-05-19

MDPI

JRC124064

1648-9144 (online),    1010-660X (print),   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC124064,   

10.3390/medicina57030290 (online),