Airborne SARS-CoV-2 in home and hospital environments investigated with a high-powered air sampler
| Autor: | Marie-Joze Rentmeester, Marijke van der Vliet, Peter de Man, Evert-Jan Wils, Marco A. Ortiz, David S. Y. Ong, Stijn J. de Man, Philomena M. Bluyssen |
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| Rok vydání: | 2022 |
| Předmět: |
Microbiology (medical)
Icu patients Veterinary medicine business.product_category Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Home Environment Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Airflow Air Microbiology Air sampler Article Humans Vacuum cleaner Medicine Air sampling Home environment SARS-CoV-2 business.industry fungi Masks COVID-19 General Medicine Hospitals Face masks PCR Infectious Diseases Airborne RNA Viral business |
| Zdroj: | Journal of Hospital Infection, 119 The Journal of Hospital Infection |
| ISSN: | 0195-6701 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jhin.2021.10.018 |
| Popis: | Background: The initial aim was to study the effects of face masks worn by recently infected individuals on the airborne spread of SARS-CoV-2, but findings motivated us to proceed with comparing the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in air samples near infected individuals at home with those near infected intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Aim: To assess the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the air of homes of infected individuals and in ICU rooms of critically ill patients with COVID-19 who were undergoing different forms of potential aerosol-generating medical procedures. Methods: A high-volume air sampler method was developed that used a household vacuum cleaner with surgical face masks serving as sample filters. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was harvested from these filters and analysed by polymerase chain reaction. Fog experiments were performed to visualize the airflow around the air sampler. Air samples were acquired in close proximity of infected individuals, with or without wearing face masks, in their homes. Environmental air samples remote from these infected individuals were also obtained, plus samples near patients in the ICU undergoing potential aerosol-generating medical procedures. Findings: Wearing a face mask resulted in a delayed and reduced flow of the fog into the air sampler. Face masks worn by infected individuals were found to contain SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 71% of cases. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in air samples regardless of mask experiments. The proportion of positive air samples was higher in the homes (29/41; 70.7%) than in the ICU (4/17; 23.5%) (P < 0.01). Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 RNA could be detected in air samples by using a vacuum cleaner based air sampler method. Air samples in the home environment of recently infected individuals contained SARS-CoV-2 RNA nearly three times more frequently by comparison with those obtained in ICU rooms during potential aerosol-generating medical procedures. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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