Current meta-analysis does not support the possibility of COVID-19 reinfections #MMPMID32897549
Arafkas M; Khosrawipour T; Kocbach P; Zielinski K; Schubert J; Mikolajczyk A; Celinska M; Khosrawipour V
J Med Virol 2021[Mar]; 93 (3): 1599-1604 PMID32897549show ga
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reinfections could be a major aggravating factor in this current pandemic, as this would further complicate potential vaccine development and help to maintain worldwide virus pockets. To investigate this critical question, we conducted a clinical meta-analysis including all available currently reported cases of potential COVID-19 reinfections. We searched for all peer-reviewed articles in the search engine of the National Center for Biotechnology Information. While there are over 30,000 publications on COVID-19, only about 15 specifically target the subject of COVID-19 reinfections. Available patient data in these reports was analyzed for age, gender, time of reported relapse after initial infection and persistent COVID-19 positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results. Following the first episode of infection, cases of clinical relapse are reported at 34 (mean) +/- 10.5 days after full recovery. Patients with clinical relapse have persisting positive COVID-19 PCR testing results until 39 +/- 9 days following initial positive testing. For patients without clinical relapse, positive testing was reported up to 54 +/- 24 days. There were no reports of any clinical reinfections after a 70-day period following initial infection.
J+Med+Virol 2021 ; 93 (3): 1599-1604
