Summary

  • CDC is interested in investigating possible cases of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection, defined as new clinical or laboratory evidence of COVID-19 after a documented period of recovery.
  • Clinicians who are aware of cases meeting criteria for possible re-infection are invited to submit de-identified patient information to the CDC using a survey tool developed by the Infectious Disease Society of America.

Clinical investigators from the CDC are investigating possible cases of re-infection among patients believed to have recovered from COVID-19.  Wisconsin clinicians are invited to notify CDC of suspected cases to assist in developing a case definition.

Several reports from China and South Korea have described cases of recurrent SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection (with or without symptoms) among patients who recovered from COVID-19; whether these cases represent re-infection versus intermittent viral RNA shedding is still being determined. The extent to which such cases are occurring in the United States is unknown.

CDC’s COVID-19 Clinical Team is working with the Emerging Infections Network (EIN, Operated by Infectious Disease Society of America) to identify clinician-suspected cases of COVID-19 reinfection in adults aged ≥18 years who meet the following criteria:

  • Laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive) disease with clinical recovery for approximately 10 days after symptom onset or diagnosis (if asymptomatic)

AND, subsequently had any one of the following:

  • Two documented negative PCR tests results followed by a positive result;
  • Recurrence of symptoms with positive PCR results; or
  • Positive PCR results for ≥30 days (without any recurrence of symptoms).

Clinicians aware of such patients are encouraged to submit de-identified patient information directly to CDC using an online reporting tool, which is available at https://ein.idsociety.org/surveys/survey/125/.

CDC and DHS will work with providers and local health departments to determine next best steps for cases that represent potential reinfection (e.g., additional testing, epidemiologic investigation).