Difficulty of downscaling the precautions for coronavirus disease-19 based on negative throat polymerase chain results in the early phase of infection. Issue 8 (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Suzuki, Tetsuya; Kutsuna, Satoshi; Nakamura, Keiji; Ide, Satoshi; Moriyama, Yuki; Saito, Sho; Morioka, Shinichiro; Ishikane, Masahiro; Kinoshita, Noriko; Hayakawa, Kayoko; Ohmagari, Norio
• Is Part Of: Journal of infection and chemotherapy. Volume 26:Issue 8(2020:Aug.)
• Page Start: 851
• Page End: 853
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: Infection control -- False-negative -- Japan -- Self-isolation; Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; 615.5805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2020.05.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1341-321X

Abstract

Abstract: We here report a case of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) in Japan in which the initial throat swab polymerase chain reaction result was negative The possibility of false-negative results in the early phase of disease suggest reconsideration of the feasibility of a community or national infection control framework to prevent transmission. We recommend establishing an alternative feasible system, such as self-isolation by contact history in non-endemic community and by symptoms in endemic community, not relying on the PCR examination, to minimize this ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. Further rapid accumulation of knowledge including incubation period, clinical course and types of transmission is warranted to control this outbreak.