Detection of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia: two case reports #MMPMID33308254
Seibert FS; Toma D; Bauer F; Paniskaki K; Anft M; Rohn BJ; Wang S; Racovitan D; Babel N; Westhoff TH
J Med Case Rep 2020[Dec]; 14 (1): 242 PMID33308254show ga
BACKGROUND: Developing therapeutic strategies for a SARS-CoV-2 infection is challenging, but first the correct diagnosis has to be made. Unspecific upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms can be misleading; hence, a nasopharyngeal swab test with a real-time reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction is of great importance. However, early viral clearing jeopardizes a sound diagnosis of COVID-19. CASE PRESENTATION: We report on two Caucasian patients who had negative pharyngeal swab tests at the onset of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. In one patient, the virus was not even detectable in bronchoalveolar lavage despite typical radiomorphologic changes. CONCLUSIONS: Negative PCR findings in both the pharynx and bronchoalveolar lavage do not exclude COVID-19 pneumonia. Computed tomography is a crucial diagnostic prerequisite in this context.