Disparate Kinetics of Viable Virus Shedding in Immunocompromised Patients: SARS-CoV-2 Versus Influenza Virus-A Prospective Real-World Cohort Study.

Lim, So Yun; Lee, Jungmin; Kwon, Ji-Soo; Chang, Euijin; Lee, Joo-Yeon; Park, Man-Seong; Kim, Sung-Han · J Infect Dis · 2026

prospective_cohort · Level II

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Abstract

There are limited data comparing viral shedding between influenza and SARS-CoV-2 in immunocompromised patients. We prospectively enrolled 70 SARS-CoV-2 and 16 influenza patients, with 48 SARS-CoV-2 patients matched to 16 influenza patients by propensity score. Weekly collected respiratory samples were subjected to viral culture and antigen testing. In matched cohorts, the time to culture-confirmed viral clearance was shorter for influenza than SARS-CoV-2 (median, 4.5 vs. 29 days; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 27.5; P < .001), and antigen negativity occurred faster (3 vs. 23 days; aHR 19.2; P < .001). These findings show different clearance kinetics for influenza and SARS-CoV-2 in immunocompromised patients.

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