Evidence review confirms CDC guidance about infectivity of novel
coronavirus
Research scours 77 studies worldwide about length of time COVID-positive people may be infectious

Date:
October 21, 2020
Source:
Oregon Health & Science University
Summary:
A new review of dozens of studies suggests that people may shed
virus for prolonged periods, but those with mild or no symptoms
may be infectious for no more than about 10 days. People who are
severely ill from COVID-19 may be infectious for as long as 20 days,
according to the review.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A review of dozens of studies by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University and Oregon State University suggests that people may shed
virus for prolonged periods, but those with mild or no symptoms may be infectious for no more than about 10 days. People who are severely ill
from COVID-19 may be infectious for as long as 20 days.


========================================================================== That's in line with guidance provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, confirming recommendations for the length of
time people should isolate following infection with SARS-CoV-2.

The review published in the journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.

"Detection of viral RNA may not correlate with infectivity since
available viral culture data suggests shorter durations of shedding of
viable virus," the authors write. "Additional data is needed to determine
the duration of shedding of viable virus and the implications for risk
of transmission." Researchers decided to conduct the review to gain
more information on transmission and to help inform infection control practices, said co-author Monica Sikka, M.D., assistant professor of
medicine (infectious diseases) in the OHSU School of Medicine.

"Even though people can shed virus for a prolonged period of time,
the studies we reviewed indicated that live virus, which may predict infectiousness, was only detected up to nine days in people who had mild symptoms," Sikka said.

The researchers identified 77 studies worldwide, including 59 that had
been peer-reviewed, and combed through the results. All studies reported assessments of viral shedding using standard methods to identify the virus
by replicating it through a process called polymerase chain reaction,
or PCR.

"Although PCR positivity can be prolonged, culture data suggests that
virus viability is typically shorter in duration," the authors write.

Co-authors include Jessina McGregor, Ph.D., associate professor in the
Oregon State University College of Pharmacy; Angela Holly Villamagna,
M.D., an instructor in infectious diseases in the OHSU School of Medicine;
and Lauren Fontana, D.O., formerly of OHSU but now an assistant professor
at the University of Minnesota.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
Oregon_Health_&_Science_University. Original written by Erik
Robinson. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Lauren Fontana, Angela Holly Villamagna, Monica K. Sikka, Jessina C.

McGregor. Understanding Viral Shedding of SARS-CoV-2: Review of
Current Literature. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology,
2020; 1 DOI: 10.1017/ice.2020.1273 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201021085113.htm

--- up 8 weeks, 2 days, 6 hours, 50 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1337:3/111)