key: cord-270377-lfcoy8n1
authors: Novazzi, Federica; Cassaniti, Irene; Piralla, Antonio; Di Sabatino, Antonio; Bruno, Raffaele; Baldanti, Fausto
title: SARS-CoV-2 positivity in rectal swabs implication for possible transmission
date: 2020-07-02
journal: J Glob Antimicrob Resist
DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2020.06.011
sha: 
doc_id: 270377
cord_uid: lfcoy8n1

nan

syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been spreading worldwide from China. Currently, the diagnosis is based on molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in respiratory samples such as nasal swab (NS) [1] . However, the evidence that NS in patients with pneumoniae were sometimes negative highlight the needed to collect alternative clinical specimens in whom SARS-CoV-2 RNA could be detected.

From the past coronavirus epidemics (SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV) we learned that viral RNA could be also detected in several clinical specimens such as rectal swab (RS) other than respiratory samples [2] . Moreover, evidence of gastrointestinal involvement SARS-CoV-2 raised the concern of viral shedding through fecal-oral or other body fluid routes [3] [4] [5] .

In this perspective, we explored the potential diagnostic role of SARS-CoV-2 real-time RT-PCR performed in biological specimens different from respiratory samples. A retrospective analysis was Interestingly, in all patients except one, the Ct values of RS was higher than Ct values of NS samples, suggesting that an active replication have not occurred in the gastrointestinal tract.

In conclusion, although the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through direct contact with infected secretion or aerosol droplets is well known, the possible transmission through other routes remains to be elucidated. Here, we described the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA in a minority of RS, supporting the evidence of a potential shed of the virus through fecal-oral. However, the very low rate of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in samples different from respiratory specimens suggest a limited J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f

Detection of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) by real-time RT-PCR

Find the right sample: A study on the versatility of saliva and urine samples for the diagnosis of emerging viruses

Molecular and serological investigation of 2019-nCoV infected patients: implication of multiple shedding routes

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Different Types of Clinical Specimens

SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in urine, blood, anal swabs, and oropharyngeal swabs specimens

We thank Daniela Sartori for manuscript editing. This work was supported by funds from the Ricerca Corrente Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo (grant n. 80206).

J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f

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