Persistent viral shedding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 after treatment with bendamustine and rituximab: A case report. Issue 6 (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Arai, Tatsuya; Mukai, Satoru; Kazama, Ryo; Ogawa, Yoshihiko; Nishida, Koji; Hatanaka, Kazuo; Gohma, Iwao
• Is Part Of: Journal of infection and chemotherapy. Volume 28:Issue 6(2022)
• Page Start: 810
• Page End: 813
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: SARS-CoV-2 -- COVID-19 -- Bendamustine -- Rituximab -- Persistent infection -- Viral shedding; BR bendamustine and rituximab -- COVID-19 coronavirus disease-2019 -- NPS nasopharyngeal specimen -- SARS-CoV-2 severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2; Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; 615.5805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2022.01.014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1341-321X

Abstract

Abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA is detectable in nasopharyngeal specimens for up to 12–20 days regardless of the presence of chronic diseases in patients. We report a case of prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection that lasted for more than eight weeks. The patient had persistent lymphopenia after receiving six cycles of bendamustine and rituximab (BR) therapy for follicular lymphoma; the last chemotherapy session was completed nine months before admission. The first nasopharyngeal specimen (NPS) for the SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction assay tested positive for the N501Y variant five weeks before admission. The patient's general and respiratory conditions gradually worsened; therefore, he was admitted to our hospital, and the same SARS-CoV-2 variant was subsequently identified on admission. Treatment for coronavirus disease was initiated, and the patient's condition improved; however, the NPS tested positive on day 15. The patient was discharged on day 28 and was instructed to isolate at home for a month. Hence, possible prolonged SARS-CoV-2 shedding should be considered in patients who receive BR therapy.