Published online Apr 26, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i12.2816
Peer-review started: September 14, 2020
First decision: December 24, 2020
Revised: January 2, 2021
Accepted: February 26, 2021
Article in press: February 26, 2021
Published online: April 26, 2021
Processing time: 213 Days and 1.3 Hours
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread around the globe. On February 28, 2020, the World Health Organization adjusted the risk of spread and impact of COVID-19 to “very high” at the global level. Studies have mainly focused on the etiology, epidemiology, and treatment of COVID-19 to limit further spread and the negative impact of the disease, while less attention has been devoted to the follow-up and reexamination of patients who recovered from COVID-19 or were released from quarantine.
This study reports two cases where patients who had negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results and met the criteria for discharge subsequently had positive RT-PCR test results. The clinical manifestations and computed tomography (CT) findings of these patients were examined. The conversion of RT-PCR test results in these two patients may be related to false-negative and false-positive outcomes of the test. CT images helped track improvement of pulmonary lesions.
The timing of discharge of COVID-19 patients should be determined by comprehensive analysis of CT images and RT-PCR test results.
Core Tip: Current research on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mainly focuses on limiting further spread and the negative impact of the disease, while less attention has been devoted to the follow-up and reexamination of patients who have recovered from COVID-19. We present two cases of COVID-19 that recovered from the disease but tested positive again after discharge. This reminds us to be vigilant about false-negative and false-positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction results. Once the patient is discharged, we should focus on his/her follow-up, isolation, and retesting.