Air and surface contamination by SARS-CoV-2 virus in a tertiary hospital in Wuhan, China
Background: Few studies have explored air and surface contamination by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in healthcare settings. Methods: Air and surface samples were collected from the isolation wards and intensive care units designated for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-10-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971220305713 |
| _version_ | 1831717018233995264 |
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| author | Li Tan Boyi Ma Xiaoquan Lai Lefei Han Peihua Cao Junji Zhang Jianguo Fu Qian Zhou Shiqing Wei Zhenling Wang Weijun Peng Lin Yang Xinping Zhang |
| author_facet | Li Tan Boyi Ma Xiaoquan Lai Lefei Han Peihua Cao Junji Zhang Jianguo Fu Qian Zhou Shiqing Wei Zhenling Wang Weijun Peng Lin Yang Xinping Zhang |
| author_sort | Li Tan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Few studies have explored air and surface contamination by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in healthcare settings. Methods: Air and surface samples were collected from the isolation wards and intensive care units designated for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Clinical data and the results of nasopharyngeal specimen and serum antibody testing were also collected for the patient sample. Results: A total of 367 air and surface swab samples were collected from the patient care areas of 15 patients with mild COVID-19 and nine patients with severe/critical COVID-19. Only one air sample taken during the intubation procedure tested positive. High-touch surfaces were slightly more likely to be contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 RNA than low-touch surfaces. Contamination rates were slightly higher near severe/critical patients than near mild patients, although this difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Surface contamination was still found near the patients with both positive IgG and IgM. Conclusions: Air and surface contamination with viral RNA was relatively low in these healthcare settings after the enhancement of infection prevention and control. Environmental contamination could still be found near seroconverted patients, suggesting the need to maintain constant vigilance in healthcare settings to reduce healthcare-associated infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T00:49:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1493ea761dc647ae9996369bafb43790 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1201-9712 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T00:49:35Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-1493ea761dc647ae9996369bafb437902022-12-21T19:21:25ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases1201-97122020-10-019937Air and surface contamination by SARS-CoV-2 virus in a tertiary hospital in Wuhan, ChinaLi Tan0Boyi Ma1Xiaoquan Lai2Lefei Han3Peihua Cao4Junji Zhang5Jianguo Fu6Qian Zhou7Shiqing Wei8Zhenling Wang9Weijun Peng10Lin Yang11Xinping Zhang12Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaHospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaTongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaSchool of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, ChinaClinical Research Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaSuzhou Municipal Hospital, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaZhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, ChinaSchool of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical School, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaTongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaTongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaTongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaSchool of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; Corresponding author at: School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaSchool of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical School, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Corresponding author at: School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical School, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaBackground: Few studies have explored air and surface contamination by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in healthcare settings. Methods: Air and surface samples were collected from the isolation wards and intensive care units designated for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Clinical data and the results of nasopharyngeal specimen and serum antibody testing were also collected for the patient sample. Results: A total of 367 air and surface swab samples were collected from the patient care areas of 15 patients with mild COVID-19 and nine patients with severe/critical COVID-19. Only one air sample taken during the intubation procedure tested positive. High-touch surfaces were slightly more likely to be contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 RNA than low-touch surfaces. Contamination rates were slightly higher near severe/critical patients than near mild patients, although this difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Surface contamination was still found near the patients with both positive IgG and IgM. Conclusions: Air and surface contamination with viral RNA was relatively low in these healthcare settings after the enhancement of infection prevention and control. Environmental contamination could still be found near seroconverted patients, suggesting the need to maintain constant vigilance in healthcare settings to reduce healthcare-associated infection during the COVID-19 pandemic.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971220305713COVID-19Infection controlHospitalPersonal protective equipmentEnvironmental contamination |
| spellingShingle | Li Tan Boyi Ma Xiaoquan Lai Lefei Han Peihua Cao Junji Zhang Jianguo Fu Qian Zhou Shiqing Wei Zhenling Wang Weijun Peng Lin Yang Xinping Zhang Air and surface contamination by SARS-CoV-2 virus in a tertiary hospital in Wuhan, China International Journal of Infectious Diseases COVID-19 Infection control Hospital Personal protective equipment Environmental contamination |
| title | Air and surface contamination by SARS-CoV-2 virus in a tertiary hospital in Wuhan, China |
| title_full | Air and surface contamination by SARS-CoV-2 virus in a tertiary hospital in Wuhan, China |
| title_fullStr | Air and surface contamination by SARS-CoV-2 virus in a tertiary hospital in Wuhan, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Air and surface contamination by SARS-CoV-2 virus in a tertiary hospital in Wuhan, China |
| title_short | Air and surface contamination by SARS-CoV-2 virus in a tertiary hospital in Wuhan, China |
| title_sort | air and surface contamination by sars cov 2 virus in a tertiary hospital in wuhan china |
| topic | COVID-19 Infection control Hospital Personal protective equipment Environmental contamination |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971220305713 |
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