80.04 Is SARS-Covid-2 Present in Wounds

A. Oropallo1, C. A. Del Pin1  1North Shore University And Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Surgery, Manhasset, NY, USA

Introduction: During the Covid-19 pandemic, wound care remains a key part of patient care. Many studies discuss the transmission of SARS Cov-2 by droplet, contact, stool and aerosol. However there have been no reports of SARS Cov -2 in wound drainage from acute or chronic injuries.

Methods: Nine positive COV-2 patients’ wounds (men=5) were sampled between April-July 2020 at Long Island Jewish Hospital, NY. Patient and IRB approval was obtained. Urgent viral RT-PCR was available on site. BD Universal viral transport with flocked flexible mini tip swab with 3 ml medium (Beckton, Dickinson and Co., Sparks MD, USA) was used to test the wounds at dermis, subcutaneous and muscle level. SARS COV-2 testing platforms included Genmarke plex (PCR) and or Xepheid Xpert (PCR) assay Abbot, modified CDC PCR.

Results: All nine patient’s wound RT-PCR were negative for SARS COV-2. The patients’ mean age was 63years, and the wound types included pressure ulcer (PU) ((sacral n=3), buttock (n=2), ischial (n=1)), two leg ulcers ((venous ulcer (n=1), surgical incision & drainage site (n=1)), tracheostomy site (n=1) . Four of the wounds were chronic. One case had continued positive nasopharyngeal RT-PCR beyond 65days.

Conclusion: In hospitalized patients with SARS COV-2, no virus was detected by viral RT- PCR in wound tissue. Personal protective equipment is required for health care providers due to a potential prolonged infectious period in some cases. A larger wound sample size, temporal relationship between therapeutic anti- viral interventions, and the nasopharyngeal and stool replication viral loads needs warrants further investigation.