COVID-19 in an immunocompromised host: persistent shedding of viable SARS-CoV-2 and emergence of multiple mutations: a case report

This article reports a case of a 21-year-old woman with refractory B-cell acute lymphocytic leukaemia who presented with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). She remained positive for SARS-CoV-2 by viral culture for 78 days and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for 97 days. Sequencing of repeat samples over time demonstrated an increasing and dynamic repertoire of mutations. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases.

Automated summary

This article reports a case of a 21-year-old woman with refractory B-cell acute lymphocytic leukaemia who had a long-lasting infection of SARS-CoV-2. The patient remained positive for the virus by viral culture for 78 days and by PCR for 97 days. Sequencing analysis showed a dynamic repertoire of mutations over time.