Living with COVID-19: could SARS-CoV-2 infection present a ping-pong effect?

Abstract

The epidemic of a novel coronavirus, named as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is still gradually spreading worldwide. Real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, RT-PCR), run in biological samples, is the gold standard method for confirmation of infection. In Italy, two consecutive negative results in oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swabs allow patients’ discharging from the hospital or quarantine interruption. Since several recent studies reported false-negative swab results, we present a peculiar double negative case then become positive after a new contact with her boyfriend. Additionally, we discuss the risk derived from SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatic spreader’s confinement suspension.