When should a patient with prior COVID-19 infection be placed in isolation precautions if readmitted months later?

摘要

In our hospital system, we do not consider the possibility of reinfection unless a patient had a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR detected in a nasopharyngeal or nasal swab specimen >3 months from the first such positive PCR test or before then if immunocompromised. However, we have had patients previously admitted with COVID-19 pneumonia, discharged with waxing and waning SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity over the following 12–13 weeks, and found to be PCR positive with high PCR cycle target thresholds when they were readmitted. These patients’ initial, severe infection has led to prolonged PCR positivity.