SARS-CoV-2 Virus Shed in Stool
Douglas K. Rex, MD, FASGE, reviewing Xiao F, et al. Gastroenterology 2020 Mar 3.
In a Chinese study of 73 patients with proven coronavirus infection, 53% of patients had positive stool sample results for viral RNA by polymerase chain reaction, with duration ranging from 1 to 12 days. Seventeen patients (23%) had RNA-positive stool after respiratory samples became negative.
COMMENT
This study was published 4 weeks ago but is one of the studies with evidence of viral shedding in feces, which is often discussed in the debate on how much personal protective equipment is warranted for endoscopy in patients with COVID-19. The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy recommends that health care professionals use N-95 masks during esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy procedures performed on patients with known infection or at high risk of infection (symptoms, exposure to infected patients, or high-risk travel). Gastroenterologists interested in having N-95 masks available for colonoscopy in infected patients or patients at high risk could cite these data in support of this interest.
Note to readers: At the time we reviewed this paper, its publisher noted that it was not in final form and that subsequent changes might be made.
Douglas K. Rex, MD, FASGE
CITATION(S)
Xiao F, Tang M, Zheng X, Liu Y, Li X, Shan H. Evidence for gastrointestinal infection of SARS-CoV-2. Gastroenterology 2020 Mar 3. (Epub ahead of print) (https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2020.02.055)
