Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the Pleural Swab of a COVID-19 Patient with a Pneumothorax

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). While evaluating nasopharyngeal swabs by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) is diagnostic, thorax computed tomography (CT) findings are also guiding in diagnosis. The association of pneumothorax and pleural effusion is not common in coronavirus disease. We presented the nucleic acid detection by a pleural swab sample in a COVID-19 patient with ground-glass opacity appearance and spontaneous pneumothorax.