Prolonged Sars-CoV-2 Viral Culture Detected in a Mild COVID-19 Infection

Abstract

We describe a case of prolonged shedding of live Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, 2 in the setting of a mild novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in a healthy young adult male. The patient did not require hospitalization or any supplemental oxygen. The viral cultures remained positive 15 days from symptom onset. The extended duration of positive viral culture with his concurrent mild symptomatology is at odds with current CDC and DOD isolation policies for positive COVID-19 patients. This case is important as health agencies around the world grapple with how to advise patients and create protocols for isolation precautions after positive COVID-19 results.