Airflow analysis of Pyeongtaek St Mary's Hospital during hospitalization of the first Middle East respiratory syndrome patient in Korea

Jo, Seongmin; Hong, Jinki; Lee, Sang Eun; Ki, Moran; Choi, Bo Youl; Sung, Minki

doi:10.1098/rsos.181164

Cited by 20 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Considering the airflow simulation study, it is likely that he acquired SARS-CoV-2 due to airborne transmission from shared bathroom. Similar to our findings, previous airflow simulation studies have shown that Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus spread from inadequately ventilated rooms through the airflow [ 13 ]. It is vital that ventilation systems are checked, especially air exhaust locations, and that function in the patient care area in the hospital is thoroughly examined.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Nosocomial Outbreak of COVID-19 in a Hematologic Ward

Jung

Lee

et al. 2021

Infect Chemother

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Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks occur in hospitals in many parts of the world. In hospital settings, the possibility of airborne transmission needs to be investigated thoroughly. Materials and Methods There was a nosocomial outbreak of COVID-19 in a hematologic ward in a tertiary hospital, Seoul, Korea. We found 11 patients and guardians with COVID-19 through vigorous contact tracing and closed-circuit television monitoring. We found one patient who probably had acquired COVID-19 through airborne-transmission. We performed airflow investigation with simulation software, whole-genome sequencing of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Results Of the nine individuals with COVID-19 who had been in the hematologic ward, six stayed in one multi-patient room (Room 36), and other three stayed in different rooms (Room 1, 34, 35). Guardian in room 35 was close contact to cases in room 36, and patient in room 34 used the shared bathroom for teeth brushing 40 minutes after index used. Airflow simulation revealed that air was spread from the bathroom to the adjacent room 1 while patient in room 1 did not used the shared bathroom. Airflow was associated with poor ventilation in shared bathroom due to dysfunctioning air-exhaust, grill on the door of shared bathroom and the unintended negative pressure of adjacent room. Conclusion Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the hematologic ward occurred rapidly in the multi-patient room and shared bathroom settings. In addition, there was a case of possible airborne transmission due to unexpected airflow.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Nosocomial Outbreak of COVID-19 in a Hematologic Ward

Jung

Lee

et al. 2021

Infect Chemother

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“…Using the same method of the multi agent modeling framework, the same research group [105] examined also a nosocomial outbreak of MERS that occurred in the Republic of Korea in 2015. Their findings were also confirmed by Jo et al [106] who also considered the wind speed and direction. All these studies were coherent with the aerosol spreading of SARS and MERS, although none of them provided epidemiological nor laboratory evidence as requested to prove the airborne transmission without any doubt.…”

Section: Sars and Merssupporting

confidence: 66%

Covid-19 Airborne Transmission and Its Prevention: Waiting for Evidence or Applying the Precautionary Principle?

2020

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Besides the predominant ways of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (namely, contacts and large droplets) the airborne one is increasingly taken into consideration as a result of latest research findings. Nevertheless, this possibility has been already suggested by previous studies on other coronaviruses including SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. To describe the state of the art of coronaviruses and airborne transmission, a systematic review was carried out using the PRISMA methodology. Overall, 64 papers were selected and classified into three main groups: laboratory experiments (12 papers), air monitoring (22) and epidemiological and airflow model studies (30). The airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is suggested by the studies of the three groups, but none has yet obtained complete evidence. The sampling and detection methods have not been validated, therefore monitoring results are affected by a possible underestimation. Then, epidemiological investigations only hypothesize the airborne transmission as a possible explanation for some illness cases, but without estimating its attributable risk. Nevertheless, while waiting for more evidence, it is urgent to base advice on preventive measures, such as the use of masks, safe distancing and air ventilation, on the precautionary principle.

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“…It was reported that MERS may spread through poorly ventilated environments as determined using sulfur hexafluoride (SF) tracer gas [6] and computational fluid dynamics analysis [7]. More recently, it has been reported that small virus-laden droplets of SARS-CoV may be displaced by airflow and deposited on equipment such as ventilation equipment, and hospital floors [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of Novel Coronavirus on the Surface of Environmental Materials Contaminated by COVID-19 Patients in the Republic of Korea

Lee

et al. 2020

Osong Public Health Res Perspect

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This study aimed to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces frequently touched by COVID-19 patients, and assess the scope of contamination and transmissibility in facilities where the outbreaks occurred. In the course of this epidemiological investigation, a total of 80 environmental specimens were collected from 6 hospitals (68 specimens) and 2 "mass facilities" (6 specimens from a rehabilitation center and 6 specimens from an apartment building complex). Specific reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction targeting of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and envelope genes, were used to identify the presence of this novel coronavirus. The 68 specimens from 6 hospitals (A, B, C, D, E, and G), where prior disinfection/cleaning had been performed before environmental sampling, tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. However, 2 out of 12 specimens (16.7%) from 2 "mass facilities" (F and H), where prior disinfection/cleaning had not taken place, were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA polymerase, and envelope genes. These results suggest that prompt disinfection and cleaning of potentially contaminated surfaces is an effective infection control measure. By inactivating SARS-CoV-2 with disinfection/cleaning the infectivity and transmission of the virus is blocked. This investigation of environmental sampling may help in the understanding of risk assessment of the COVID-19 outbreak in "mass facilities" and provide guidance in using effective disinfectants on contaminated surfaces.

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Airflow analysis of Pyeongtaek St Mary's Hospital during hospitalization of the first Middle East respiratory syndrome patient in Korea

Cited by 20 publications

References 38 publications

Nosocomial Outbreak of COVID-19 in a Hematologic Ward

Nosocomial Outbreak of COVID-19 in a Hematologic Ward

Covid-19 Airborne Transmission and Its Prevention: Waiting for Evidence or Applying the Precautionary Principle?

Detection of Novel Coronavirus on the Surface of Environmental Materials Contaminated by COVID-19 Patients in the Republic of Korea

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