Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41873169›Full record

ArticleEpidemiology and infection2026

Frequency, dynamics, and duration of faecal shedding in SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals, a scoping review.

Susan Abunijela, Timo Greiner, Walter Haas, Romy Kerber, Peter Pütz, Alexander Schattschneider, Jakob Schumacher, Udo Buchholz

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in Epidemiology and infection, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Susan AbunijelaInfectious Disease Epidemiology, https://ror.org/01k5qnb77Robert Koch-Institut, Germany.
Timo GreinerInfectious Disease Epidemiology, https://ror.org/01k5qnb77Robert Koch-Institut, Germany.
Walter HaasInfectious Disease Epidemiology, https://ror.org/01k5qnb77Robert Koch-Institut, Germany.
Romy KerberInfectious Disease Epidemiology, https://ror.org/01k5qnb77Robert Koch-Institut, Germany.
Peter PützInfectious Disease Epidemiology, https://ror.org/01k5qnb77Robert Koch-Institut, Germany.
Alexander SchattschneiderInfectious Disease Epidemiology, https://ror.org/01k5qnb77Robert Koch-Institut, Germany.
Jakob SchumacherInfectious Disease Epidemiology, https://ror.org/01k5qnb77Robert Koch-Institut, Germany.
Udo BuchholzInfectious Disease Epidemiology, https://ror.org/01k5qnb77Robert Koch-Institut, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6597-3995

Funding

Bundesministerium für Gesundheit
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

To estimate illness incidence or prevalence from wastewater data, modelling approaches may benefit from incorporating faecal shedding parameters. We systematically searched PubMed and a public repository on shedding data and included 33 studies that met at least one of our objectives. Among 32 studies, the proportion of SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals with detectable virus in stool ranged from 18 to 100%, with a pooled estimate of 54% (95% CI: 52-56%). Stratification by four clinical severity categories, ranging from asymptomatic to critically ill, showed no significant differences among categories (p-value = 0.49). The proportion of individuals with detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA in stool was higher in children (61%) than in adults (53%; p-value = 0.02). In half of the individuals who initially shed the virus in stool, it remained detectable for an estimated 22 days post-symptom onset. Three studies documented viral load kinetics, indicating a peak between days 3 and 9. Twenty-five studies reported maximum shedding durations ranging from 2 to 12 weeks. Our review summarizes the frequency, dynamics, and duration of SARS-CoV-2 shedding in stool and may serve as a valuable foundation for modelling efforts involving faecal shedding indicators.

Indexed as

COVID-19FecesSARS-CoV-2Virus SheddingHumansPandemicsRNA, ViralViral LoadRNA, ViralCOVID-19FaecesSARS-CoV-2Virus SheddingWastewater

Identifiers

PMID41873169
PMCPMC13125279

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.