Background Developing therapeutic strategies for a SARS-CoV-2 infection is challenging, but first the correct diagnosis has to be made. Unspecific upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms can be misleading; hence, a nasopharyngeal swab test with a real-time reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction is of great importance. However, early viral clearing jeopardizes a sound diagnosis of COVID-19. Case presentation We report on two Caucasian patients who had negative pharyngeal swab tests at the onset of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. In one patient, the virus was not even detectable in bronchoalveolar lavage despite typical radiomorphologic changes. Conclusions Negative PCR findings in both the pharynx and bronchoalveolar lavage do not exclude COVID-19 pneumonia. Computed tomography is a crucial diagnostic prerequisite in this context.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Swab test, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19 pneumonia, Pneumonia, SARS-COV-2 infection, diagnostic, Diagnosis, tomography, Symptom, virus, Computed tomography, Nasopharyngeal swab, polymerase chain reaction, Viral, PCR, Patient, Therapeutic strategies, SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, respiratory, therapeutic strategy, Bronchoalveolar lavage, Lower respiratory tract, Chain Reaction, changes, Pharyngeal swab, one patient, nasopharyngeal swab test, negative, detectable, Developing, Caucasian patient, diagnosis of COVID-19, 【제목키워드】 detection, Case report,