Abstract
Background: SARS-CoV-2 has spread globally. Currently, literature of SARS-CoV-2 in neonates is scarce. We present a case of a neonate with a high viral load and prolonged virus shedding.
Methods: Epidemiology, clinical characteristics, treatment, laboratory data and follow-up information and the treatment of a neonate with COVID-19 were recorded.
Results: A 7-day-old boy was admitted to the hospital with fever, lethargy and apnoea. He was found SARS-CoV-2 RNA positive with an exceptionally high viral load in nasopharyngeal swab and stool. The father and two maternity nurses at home had detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA as well. Sequencing showed all strains belonged to the same cluster. The father was asymptomatic and the maternity nurses developed symptoms after visiting. In the mother, no SARS-CoV-2 RNA could be found. Six days after admission, the neonate was discharged after clinical improvement with oral antibiotics because of a possible pyelonephritis. Monitoring the course of this infection showed that SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detectable in the nasopharynx until day 19 and in stool until day 42 after symptom onset.
Conclusions: This case shows that neonates can have a high viral load of SARS-CoV-2 and can shed the virus for over one month in stool. Despite the high viral load in the neonate, the mother and a sibling did not get infected.
Keywords: COVID19; Neonates; Novel coronavirus; SARS-CoV-2.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, COVID19, Novel coronavirus, Neonates, 【초록키워드】 Treatment, SARS-CoV-2, Clinical characteristics, hospital, Sequencing, Infection, Antibiotics, Symptom, virus, Novel coronavirus, Spread, Nasopharyngeal swab, Stool, Neonate, Neonates, Viral, Asymptomatic, Viral load, Fever, nasopharynx, Cluster, Clinical improvement, monitoring, SARS-CoV-2 RNA, Follow-up, novel, information, Admission, mother, strain, pyelonephritis, symptom onset, laboratory data, high viral load, lethargy, positive, father, sibling, Course, detectable, discharged, were recorded, maternity nurse, with COVID-19, 【제목키워드】 virus, SARSCoV-2,