COVID-19 in the peritoneal fluid: does this evidence oblige to introduce new rules? Presentation of a Case Report

Abstract Background : The Covid 19 pandemic introduced the need to outline new guidelines for the treatment of the Covid positive patient in surgery. With this report we present what we believe to be important additional information about an area that has not yet been studied, the potential infectivity of peritoneal secretions.Case presentation : A 73-year-old woman accesses our PS where she is found to be positive on the nosepharyngeal swab for Covid 19. The patient presents a picture of intestinal occlusion from imprisoned hernia, which is why she undergoes exploratory laparotomy surgery. During surgery a peritoneal swab is performed which is positive for Covid 19.Conclusion : This case suggests that, in the presence of patients susceptible to surgical therapy with negative Covid swab, performing a peritoneal swab may reveal a false negative. An extensive database that collects the results of pharyngeal and peritoneal swabs of patients undergoing surgery is necessary to delineate the appropriate approach to the patient in the Covid era.