Detection of air and surface contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in hospital rooms of infected patients
Po Ying Chia, Kristen K. Coleman, Yian Kim Tan, Sean Wei Xiang Ong, Marcus Gum, Sok Kiang Lau, Xiao Fang Lim, Ai Sim Lim, Stephanie Sutjipto, Pei Hua Lee, Than The Son, Barnaby Edward Young, Donald K. Milton, Gregory C. Gray, Stephan C. Schuster, Timothy Barkham, Partha Pratim De, Shawn Vasoo, Mónica Chan, Brenda Ang, Boon Huan Tan, Yee‐Sin Leo, Oon Tek Ng, Michelle Wong, Kalisvar Marimuthu, David Chien Lye, Poh Lian Lim, Cheng Chuan Lee, Li Min Ling, Lawrence Lee, Tau Hong Lee, Chen Seong Wong, Sapna P. Sadarangani, Ray Junhao Lin, Deborah Hee Ling Ng, Mucheli Sharavan Sadasiv, Tsin Wen Yeo, Chiaw Yee Choy, Glorijoy Shi En Tan, Frederico Dimatatac, Isais Florante Santos, Chi Jong Go, Yu Kit Chan, Jun Yang Tay, Jackie Yu-Ling Tan, Nihar Pandit, Benjamin Ho, Shehara M Mendis, Yuan Yi Constance Chen, Mohammad Yazid Abdad, D G Moses
Abstract
Abstract Understanding the particle size distribution in the air and patterns of environmental contamination of SARS-CoV-2 is essential for infection prevention policies. Here we screen surface and air samples from hospital rooms of COVID-19 patients for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Environmental sampling is conducted in three airborne infection isolation rooms (AIIRs) in the ICU and 27 AIIRs in the general ward. 245 surface samples are collected. 56.7% of rooms have at least one environmental surface contaminated. High touch surface contamination is shown in ten (66.7%) out of 15 patients in the first week of illness, and three (20%) beyond the first week of illness ( p = 0.01, χ 2 test). Air sampling is performed in three of the 27 AIIRs in the general ward, and detects SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive particles of sizes >4 µm and 1–4 µm in two rooms, despite these rooms having 12 air changes per hour. This warrants further study of the airborne transmission potential of SARS-CoV-2.