Deposition of respiratory virus pathogens on frequently touched surfaces at airports
Abstract Background International and national travelling has made the rapid spread of infectious diseases possible. Little information is available on the role of major traffic hubs, such as airports, in the transmission of respiratory infections, including seasonal influenza and a pandemic threat....
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12879-018-3150-5 |
| _version_ | 1818282472872345600 |
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| author | Niina Ikonen Carita Savolainen-Kopra Joanne E. Enstone Ilpo Kulmala Pertti Pasanen Anniina Salmela Satu Salo Jonathan S. Nguyen-Van-Tam Petri Ruutu for the PANDHUB consortium |
| author_facet | Niina Ikonen Carita Savolainen-Kopra Joanne E. Enstone Ilpo Kulmala Pertti Pasanen Anniina Salmela Satu Salo Jonathan S. Nguyen-Van-Tam Petri Ruutu for the PANDHUB consortium |
| author_sort | Niina Ikonen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background International and national travelling has made the rapid spread of infectious diseases possible. Little information is available on the role of major traffic hubs, such as airports, in the transmission of respiratory infections, including seasonal influenza and a pandemic threat. We investigated the presence of respiratory viruses in the passenger environment of a major airport in order to identify risk points and guide measures to minimize transmission. Methods Surface and air samples were collected weekly at three different time points during the peak period of seasonal influenza in 2015–16 in Finland. Swabs from surface samples, and air samples were tested by real-time PCR for influenza A and B viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, rhinovirus and coronaviruses (229E, HKU1, NL63 and OC43). Results Nucleic acid of at least one respiratory virus was detected in 9 out of 90 (10%) surface samples, including: a plastic toy dog in the children’s playground (2/3 swabs, 67%); hand-carried luggage trays at the security check area (4/8, 50%); the buttons of the payment terminal at the pharmacy (1/2, 50%); the handrails of stairs (1/7, 14%); and the passenger side desk and divider glass at a passport control point (1/3, 33%). Among the 10 respiratory virus findings at various sites, the viruses identified were: rhinovirus (4/10, 40%, from surfaces); coronavirus (3/10, 30%, from surfaces); adenovirus (2/10, 20%, 1 air sample, 1 surface sample); influenza A (1/10, 10%, surface sample). Conclusions Detection of pathogen viral nucleic acids indicates respiratory viral surface contamination at multiple sites associated with high touch rates, and suggests a potential risk in the identified airport sites. Of the surfaces tested, plastic security screening trays appeared to pose the highest potential risk, and handling these is almost inevitable for all embarking passengers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T00:21:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fd23992942754257aa0adef033f84cff |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2334 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T00:21:34Z |
| publishDate | 2018-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-fd23992942754257aa0adef033f84cff2022-12-22T00:05:35ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342018-08-011811710.1186/s12879-018-3150-5Deposition of respiratory virus pathogens on frequently touched surfaces at airportsNiina Ikonen0Carita Savolainen-Kopra1Joanne E. Enstone2Ilpo Kulmala3Pertti Pasanen4Anniina Salmela5Satu Salo6Jonathan S. Nguyen-Van-Tam7Petri Ruutu8for the PANDHUB consortiumDepartment of Health Security, National Institute for Health and WelfareDepartment of Health Security, National Institute for Health and WelfareSchool of Medicine, Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of NottinghamVTT Technical Research Centre of Finland LtdDepartment of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern FinlandDepartment of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern FinlandVTT Technical Research Centre of Finland LtdSchool of Medicine, Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of NottinghamDepartment of Health Security, National Institute for Health and WelfareAbstract Background International and national travelling has made the rapid spread of infectious diseases possible. Little information is available on the role of major traffic hubs, such as airports, in the transmission of respiratory infections, including seasonal influenza and a pandemic threat. We investigated the presence of respiratory viruses in the passenger environment of a major airport in order to identify risk points and guide measures to minimize transmission. Methods Surface and air samples were collected weekly at three different time points during the peak period of seasonal influenza in 2015–16 in Finland. Swabs from surface samples, and air samples were tested by real-time PCR for influenza A and B viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, rhinovirus and coronaviruses (229E, HKU1, NL63 and OC43). Results Nucleic acid of at least one respiratory virus was detected in 9 out of 90 (10%) surface samples, including: a plastic toy dog in the children’s playground (2/3 swabs, 67%); hand-carried luggage trays at the security check area (4/8, 50%); the buttons of the payment terminal at the pharmacy (1/2, 50%); the handrails of stairs (1/7, 14%); and the passenger side desk and divider glass at a passport control point (1/3, 33%). Among the 10 respiratory virus findings at various sites, the viruses identified were: rhinovirus (4/10, 40%, from surfaces); coronavirus (3/10, 30%, from surfaces); adenovirus (2/10, 20%, 1 air sample, 1 surface sample); influenza A (1/10, 10%, surface sample). Conclusions Detection of pathogen viral nucleic acids indicates respiratory viral surface contamination at multiple sites associated with high touch rates, and suggests a potential risk in the identified airport sites. Of the surfaces tested, plastic security screening trays appeared to pose the highest potential risk, and handling these is almost inevitable for all embarking passengers.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12879-018-3150-5Influenza virusRespiratory virusSurface contaminationAirport |
| spellingShingle | Niina Ikonen Carita Savolainen-Kopra Joanne E. Enstone Ilpo Kulmala Pertti Pasanen Anniina Salmela Satu Salo Jonathan S. Nguyen-Van-Tam Petri Ruutu for the PANDHUB consortium Deposition of respiratory virus pathogens on frequently touched surfaces at airports BMC Infectious Diseases Influenza virus Respiratory virus Surface contamination Airport |
| title | Deposition of respiratory virus pathogens on frequently touched surfaces at airports |
| title_full | Deposition of respiratory virus pathogens on frequently touched surfaces at airports |
| title_fullStr | Deposition of respiratory virus pathogens on frequently touched surfaces at airports |
| title_full_unstemmed | Deposition of respiratory virus pathogens on frequently touched surfaces at airports |
| title_short | Deposition of respiratory virus pathogens on frequently touched surfaces at airports |
| title_sort | deposition of respiratory virus pathogens on frequently touched surfaces at airports |
| topic | Influenza virus Respiratory virus Surface contamination Airport |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12879-018-3150-5 |
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