Contamination of SARS-CoV-2 in patient surroundings and on personal protective equipment in a non-ICU isolation ward for COVID-19 patients with prolonged PCR positive status

Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control

Rong Deng¹  Haiyan Long²  Li Wei³  Yantong Wang³  Linzhi Cheng³  Wenzhi Huang³  Zhiyong Zong⁴  Xiaojun Lu⁵ 

[1] Center for Pathogen Research, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China;Center for Pathogen Research, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China;Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China;Department of Infection Control, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China;Department of Infection Control, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China;Center for Pathogen Research, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China;Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China;Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China;

关键词: Corona virus disease 2019;    COVID-19;    SARS-CoV-2;    Air sampling;    Environment sampling;    Healthcare workers;    Personal protection equipment;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13756-020-00839-x

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

ObjectivesWe performed an environmental sampling study to investigate the environmental contamination of SARS-CoV-2 by COVID-19 patients with prolonged PCR positive status of clinical samples.MethodsWe sampled the air from rooms for nine COVID-19 patients with illness or positive PCR > 30 days, before and after nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabbing and before and after nebulization treatment. We also sampled patients’ surroundings and healthcare workers’ personal protection equipment (PPE) in a non-ICU ward. SARS-CoV-2 was detected by PCR.ResultsEighty-eight samples were collected from high-touch surfaces and floors in patient rooms and toilets, with only the bedsheets of two patients and one toilet positive for SARS-CoV-2. All air samples (n = 34) were negative for SARS-CoV-2. Fifty-five samples collected from PPE were all negative.ConclusionContamination of near-patient surroundings was uncommon for COVID-19 patients with prolonged PCR positive status if environmental cleaning/disinfection were performed rigorously. Airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 was unlikely in these non-ICU settings.

【 授权许可】

CC BY