Clinical Utility of SARS-CoV-2 Whole Genome Sequencing in Deciphering Source of Infection.

ABSTRACT: COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 is a worldwide problem. From the standpoint of hospital infection control, determining the source of infection is critical. We conducted the present study to evaluate the efficacy of using whole genome sequencing to determine the source of infection in hospitalized patients who do not have a clear infectious contact history. Recently, we encountered two seemingly separate COVID-19 clusters in a tertiary hospital. Whole viral genome sequencing distinguished the two clusters according to the viral haplotype. However, the source of infection was unclear in 14 patients with COVID-19 who were clinically unlinked to clusters #1 or #2. These patients, who had no clear history of infectious contact within the hospital ("undetermined source of infection"), had haplotyp

SUBMITTER: Takenouchi T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7585492 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature