Background
Since the beginning of the severe acute respiratory syndrome
coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, the potential for re-infection with
the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been a concern. Endemic coronaviruses are known
to re-infect individuals in the same year, so it is plausible that
natural infection with SARS-CoV-2 would similarly provide short-lived
immunity. However, due to prolonged viral RNA shedding of the SARS-CoV-2
virus, it has been difficult to differentiate prolonged shedding from
true re-infection.1 This has changed in recent months
when several reports emerged of individuals re-infected with genetically
different lineages of SARS-CoV-2.2,3 These reports
represent confirmation that, while uncommon, re-infection in the span of
several months with SARS-CoV-2 can occur.
Currently, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) does not recommend
testing individuals for re-infection less than 90 days since symptom
onset.4,5 However, detailed SARS-CoV-2 real-time
reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR) kinetics data
appear to describe a cessation of viral RNA shedding after 70 days in
the majority of individuals (though exceptions have been
described).6–8 In this brief report, we describe the
clinical characteristics and laboratory results of individuals with
multiple positive SARS-CoV-2 rtPCR results that extend beyond 70 days.