EVIDENCE OF SARS-COV-2 RNA VIRUS IN CHRONIC WOUNDS OF ACTIVE COVID-19 PATIENTS: A SINGLE-CENTRE RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Purpose: This studyinvestigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA virus in the chronic wounds of confirmed COVID-19 positive patients. Methods: This is a single-centre retrospective observational study conducted at a dedicated COVID-19 tertiary centre. COVID-19 positive patients with chronic wounds (traumatic/infective) were included in this study. The specimens from wounds were collected while doing the dressing and analyzed with real-time reverse tran­scriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) to know the presence of the virus. Results: A total of eleven patients were included in this study. Eleven samples were collected safely from wound swabs and analyzed. None of the samples from the wound tested positive for the virus while they were tested positive from nasopharyngeal swab which was taken simultaneously or within 3 days prior. Conclusions: The wounds of COVID-19 patients were considered negative with least risk of transmission of the disease. Thus, these patients were managed safely using proper wound precautions and strict COVID 19 protocols and guidelines.