A recent study has reported the positive testing of COVID-19 virus in fecal samples up to 47 days after first symptom onset. According to the data, respiratory samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA for a mean of 16.7 days. Fecal samples, on the other hand, remained positive for a mean of 27.9 days.
Click here for a detailed timeline of respiratory and fecal COVID-19 positive testing. As you can see, virus is present in faeces long after it is not longer detected in respiratory samples.
So, what does this mean? COVID-19 may be viable in the environment for long durations, and could be shedded through faeces.
We therefore advise that any item with contact with infected faeces be immediately disposed of.
Government advice already recommends single-use PPE. Cleaning requirements for coronavirus are still being researched, so minimum risk strategies should be adopted. Disposable bedpans should therefore be used with COVID-19 positive or suspected patients to reduce risk of fecal-oral pathways.
Further reading
COVID-19 – Recent studies suggest fecal-oral transmission pathway
Yongjian Wu, Cheng Guo, Lantian Tang, Zhongsi Hong, Jianhui Zhou, Xin Dong, “Prolonged presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in faecal samples”, The Lancet, March 19, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-1253(20)30083-2
Yong Zhang, Cao Chen, Shuangli Zhu, Chang Shu, Dongyan Wang, Jingdong Song, et al. Isolation of 2019-nCoV from a Stool Specimen of a Laboratory-Confirmed Case of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)[J]. China CDC Weekly, 2020, 2(8): 123-124
Infection Control: Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) or Persons Under Investigation for COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, updated February 21 2020 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/infection-control/control-recommendations.html. Accessed 4 March 2020
