Rectally shed SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 inpatients is consistently lower than respiratory shedding and lacks infectivity.

Objectives: Assessment of whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been propagated during intestinal passage and infectivity is conserved when shed rectally by hospitalized individuals.

Methods: An exploratory cohort study including 28 inpatients with coronavirus disease 2019 with estimation of RNA levels by RT-PCR and of viral infectivity by culturing of viral material sampled concomitantly and identically from pharynx and rectum.

Results: SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected more frequently (91%, 30/33 versus 42%, 14/33, p <0.