Persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 patients during the second wave of the pandemic in India

Abstract

Introduction: India witnessed the catastrophic second wave of COVID-19 during the summer months of 2021. Many patients with non-resolution of symptoms admitted to dedicated COVID-19 treatment centers required prolonged inpatient care which led to the unavailability of beds for other COVID-19 patients. The objective of this study was to determine the duration of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in moderate and severe COVID-19 patients requiring long-term pulmonary care as well as to find out the association between different variables with the persistence of the virus.

Methodology: A retrospective chart review of clinical and laboratory data of patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 between 1^st April 2021 and 15^th July 2021 admitted for more than 28 days and requiring long-term pulmonary care was carried out at National Cancer Institute, AIIMS, India. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected with real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction-based tests. Data from all consecutively included patients satisfying the selection criteria were presented temporally and analyzed by Fisher’s exact test (p < 0.05).

Results: All 51 patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA at the 5^th week of initial laboratory confirmation of COVID-19. The majority of the patients (38; 74.5%) remained positive for viral RNA till the 6^th week and the median duration of viral positivity was 45 days. The clinical presentation of SARI at admission was significantly higher among patients with viral persistence till the 6^th week (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: The median duration of the viral positivity was 45 days and SARI at admission was significantly associated with viral persistence till the 6^th week.