SARS-CoV-2 surveillance with environmental surface sampling in public areas
Contaminated surfaces are one of the ways that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be transmitted. SARS-CoV-2 can be detected on environmental surfaces; however, few environmental sampling studies have been conducted in nonclinical settings. The objective of this study was to detect SARS-CoV-2 R...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2022-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9683569/?tool=EBI |
| _version_ | 1811322033531781120 |
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| author | Kristina Mihajlovski Mark P. Buttner Patricia Cruz Brian Labus Barbara St. Pierre Schneider Elizabeth Detrick |
| author_facet | Kristina Mihajlovski Mark P. Buttner Patricia Cruz Brian Labus Barbara St. Pierre Schneider Elizabeth Detrick |
| author_sort | Kristina Mihajlovski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Contaminated surfaces are one of the ways that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be transmitted. SARS-CoV-2 can be detected on environmental surfaces; however, few environmental sampling studies have been conducted in nonclinical settings. The objective of this study was to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA on environmental surfaces in public areas in Las Vegas, Nevada. In total, 300 surface samples were collected from high-touch surfaces from high-congregate public locations and from a public health facility (PHF) that was visited by COVID-19 patients. Environmental samples were analyzed with quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) using SARS-CoV-2 specific primers and probes for three target genes. Results showed that 31 out of 300 (10.3%) surface samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, 24 at the PHF and 7 in high-congregate public locations. Concentrations ranged from 102 to 106 viral particles per 3 ml sample on a wide variety of materials. The data also showed that the N gene assay had greater sensitivity compared to the S and ORF gene assays. Besides frequently touched surfaces, SARS-CoV-2 was detected in restrooms, on floors and surfaces in contact with floors, as well as in a mop water sample. The results of this study describe the extent and distribution of environmental SARS-CoV-2 contamination in public areas in Las Vegas, Nevada. A method using the N gene PCR assay was developed for SARS-CoV-2 environmental monitoring in public areas. Environmental monitoring with this method can determine the specific sites of surface contamination in the community and may be beneficial for prevention of COVID-19 indirect transmission, and evaluation and improvement of infection control practices in public areas, public health facilities, universities, and businesses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T13:28:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3d6ba055c5d94736806802ee44c4ce3c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T13:28:05Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-3d6ba055c5d94736806802ee44c4ce3c2022-12-22T02:45:04ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-011711SARS-CoV-2 surveillance with environmental surface sampling in public areasKristina MihajlovskiMark P. ButtnerPatricia CruzBrian LabusBarbara St. Pierre SchneiderElizabeth DetrickContaminated surfaces are one of the ways that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be transmitted. SARS-CoV-2 can be detected on environmental surfaces; however, few environmental sampling studies have been conducted in nonclinical settings. The objective of this study was to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA on environmental surfaces in public areas in Las Vegas, Nevada. In total, 300 surface samples were collected from high-touch surfaces from high-congregate public locations and from a public health facility (PHF) that was visited by COVID-19 patients. Environmental samples were analyzed with quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) using SARS-CoV-2 specific primers and probes for three target genes. Results showed that 31 out of 300 (10.3%) surface samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, 24 at the PHF and 7 in high-congregate public locations. Concentrations ranged from 102 to 106 viral particles per 3 ml sample on a wide variety of materials. The data also showed that the N gene assay had greater sensitivity compared to the S and ORF gene assays. Besides frequently touched surfaces, SARS-CoV-2 was detected in restrooms, on floors and surfaces in contact with floors, as well as in a mop water sample. The results of this study describe the extent and distribution of environmental SARS-CoV-2 contamination in public areas in Las Vegas, Nevada. A method using the N gene PCR assay was developed for SARS-CoV-2 environmental monitoring in public areas. Environmental monitoring with this method can determine the specific sites of surface contamination in the community and may be beneficial for prevention of COVID-19 indirect transmission, and evaluation and improvement of infection control practices in public areas, public health facilities, universities, and businesses.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9683569/?tool=EBI |
| spellingShingle | Kristina Mihajlovski Mark P. Buttner Patricia Cruz Brian Labus Barbara St. Pierre Schneider Elizabeth Detrick SARS-CoV-2 surveillance with environmental surface sampling in public areas PLoS ONE |
| title | SARS-CoV-2 surveillance with environmental surface sampling in public areas |
| title_full | SARS-CoV-2 surveillance with environmental surface sampling in public areas |
| title_fullStr | SARS-CoV-2 surveillance with environmental surface sampling in public areas |
| title_full_unstemmed | SARS-CoV-2 surveillance with environmental surface sampling in public areas |
| title_short | SARS-CoV-2 surveillance with environmental surface sampling in public areas |
| title_sort | sars cov 2 surveillance with environmental surface sampling in public areas |
| url | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9683569/?tool=EBI |
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