12/6—Viral shedding of SARS-CoV-2 (median: 18.4 days; detectable up to 92 days) [Rapid review]
Understanding viral shedding of severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2): Review of current literature
The overall pooled median duration of RNA shedding from respiratory sources was 18.4 days (95% CI: 15.5 days - 21.3 days; I2=98.87%, p<0.01) among 28 studies. When stratified by disease severity, the pooled median duration of viral RNA shedding from respiratory sources was 19.8 days (95% CI: 16.2 days – 23.5 days; I2=96.42%, p<0.01) among severely ill patients and 17.2 days (95% CI: 14.0 days - 20.5 days; I2=95.64%, p<0.01) in mild/moderate illness. Viral RNA was detected up to 92 days after symptom onset. Viable virus was isolated by culture from -6 days to 20 days relative to symptom onset.
SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV viral load dynamics, duration of viral shedding, and infectiousness: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Mean SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding duration in the upper respiratory tract (URT), lower respiratory tract (LRT), stool and serum were 17.0, 14.6, 17.2 and 16.6 days, respectively. Maximum shedding duration in URT, LRT, stool and serum were 83, 59, 35 and 60 days, respectively. Pooled mean SARS-CoV-2 shedding duration was positively associated with age. No study has detected live virus beyond day nine of illness, despite persistently high viral loads. SARS-CoV-2 viral load in the upper URT appears to peak in the first week of illness.
Duration of Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Viral Shedding in Children With SARS-CoV-2: A Systematic Review and Synthesis of Data
Based on data compiled from 69 pediatric cases, the duration of viral shedding through the respiratory tract is up to 24 days from symptom onset with a mean of 11.1 ± 5.8 days.
Spatial and temporal dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
In mild adult patients, the pooled estimate of the mean duration of positive SARS-CoV-2 viral detection after symptom onset in the URT was 12•1 days (CI: 10•12, 14•05) (Fig. 2a), 24•1 days (CI: 10•02, 38•19) in LRT (Fig. 2c), and 15•5 days (CI: 8•04, 22•88) in faeces (Fig. 2e). In moderate-severe adult patients, the pooled estimate of mean duration of positive SARS-CoV-2 viral detection after symptom onset in the URT was 15•8 days (CI: 11•12, 20•56) (Fig. 2b), 23•2 days (CI: 21•49, 24•97) in the LRT (Fig. 2d), 20•8 days (CI: 16•40, 25•17) in faeces (Fig. 2f).
Incidence and Persistence of Viral Shedding in COVID-19 Post-acute Patients With Negativized Pharyngeal Swab: A Systematic Review
We found that fecal positivity duration (median 19 days) was significantly (p < 0.001) longer than respiratory tract positivity (median 14 days).
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