Prolonged Viral Shedding in Vertically Acquired SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Preterm Infants–Shedding Versus Infectivity

Abstract

The reported median duration of viral shedding after infection with SARS-CoV2 is between 12 and 20 days. It is now established that infected individuals can continue to shed viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) without shedding live virus. This has implications for quarantine and infection control practices. COVID in the acute phase seems to be milder in children, and the duration of viral RNA shedding is shorter in children compared to adults. SARS-CoV-2 infections in the newborn period is rare. Little is known about the duration of viral shedding in preterm infants with vertically acquired SARS-CoV-2. 3 of the 4 preterm infants cared for at our center had prolonged shedding up to 34 days with live viral shedding not seen beyond the second week when tested in 3 of them.