Abstract：Objective To investigate the positive rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleic acid retesting in cured COVID-19 patients within 14 days after discharge, to analyze the influencing factors for retesting positive and transmission risk of discharged COVID-19 patients, and to provide a basis for effectively manage the discharged patients. Methods The follow-up information and nucleic acid testing results of 86 discharged patients were analyzed. The positive rate of nucleic acid retesting within 14 days after discharge was calculated. The statistical correlations of factors such as gender, age, source of infection, clinical severity, course of disease and length of hospital stay with the positive rate of nucleic acid retesting were analyzed. Results No COVID-19-related systems like fever, weakness and dry cough were found in the 86 discharged patients, but 8 (9.30%) patients were positive for nucleic acid retesting. There was no statistical association of gender, age, source ofinfection and clinical severity with the positive for nucleic acid retesting after discharge (P>0.05). Thecourse of disease and length of hospital stay were statistically correlated with the positive for nucleic acid retesting after discharge (P<0.05). A total of 20 close contacts of 8 patients with positive nucleic acid retesting results were followed up, but no infection was found. Conclusions The course of disease and the length of hospital stay are factors influencing the positive for nucleic acid retesting in discharged patients. The results suggest that the discharged patients should be isolated for 14 days.
2021, Vol. 28 
