Environmental virus detection associated with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals with positive anal swabs

Abstract

In the fight against the outbreak of COVID-19 in China, we treated some asymptomatic infected individuals. This study aimed to detect pathogens in biological and environmental samples of these asymptomatic infected individuals and analyse their association. Using a cross-sectional study design, we collected biological and environmental samples from 19 patients treated in the isolation ward of Nanjing No.2 Hospital. Biological samples included saliva, pharyngeal swabs, blood, anal swabs, and exhaled breath condensate. Swab samples from the ward environment included inside masks, outside masks, palm swabs, bedside handrails, bedside tables, cell phone screens, toilet cell phone shelves, toilet pads and toilet lids. We also obtained some samples from public areas. We used RT-PCR to detect pathogens and colloidal gold to detect antibodies. As results, 19 asymptomatic infected individuals participated in the survey, with 8 positives for pathogens and 11 positives only for antibodies. Three positive samples were detected from among 96 environmental samples, respectively, from a cell phone surface, a cell phone shelf and a bedside handrail. No positive samples were detected in the exhaled breath condensate in this work. All patients identified pathogens in the environment had positive anal swabs. There was a statistical association between positive anal swabs and positive environmental samples. The association of positive samples from the surrounding of asymptomatically infected patients with positive anal swabs suggested that patients might secrete the virus for a more extended period.

Mobile phones of paediatric hospital staff are never cleaned and commonly used in toilets with implications for healthcare nosocomial diseases

“…Of interest, a recent Chinese study investigating asymptomatic carriers of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in an isolation ward, showed that all carriers had positive anal swabs for the virus. Interestingly, among 96 different environmental sampling in this ward, only three samples were positive for the virus and included a cell phone, a cell phone shelf and a bedside rail 17 . Common fecal-derived microbes are frequently found on mobile phones such as Acinetobacter , Enterococci species 5 .…”

A pilot metagenomic study reveals that community derived mobile phones are reservoirs of viable pathogenic microbes

“…It had been previously hypothesised that mobile phones should be considered as a ‘Trojan Horse’ for SARS-CoV-2 virus and contributing to the transmission and spread of the disease globally 4 . Such phones would be contaminated because of viral shedding from COVID-19 sufferers either by faecal material deposition on phones, and/or contact of phones with uncleaned virally infected hands and/or patient’s deposition of high loads of droplet rich viruses during calls on mobile phones 7 . Indeed, a recent article demonstrated clearly that viruses (including SARS-CoV-2) can survive on glass surfaces (e.g., mobile phones) and polymer plastic surfaces (e.g., bank notes) for extended periods [up to 28 days in comparison to the previous estimated survival time of 14 days] 5 .…”

“…Whilst individuals might or might not wash their hands when exiting www.nature.com/scientificreports/ restrooms, their phones used in toilets are likely to be contaminated either due to the flushing plume effect or simply by contact with yet un-washed hands. Coincidentally, a recent study working on the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic, showed that coronaviruses were retrieved from anal source samples belonging to asymptomatic COVID-19 positive patients and such viruses have been detected on mobile phones 7 . It had been previously hypothesised that mobile phones should be considered as a 'Trojan Horse' for SARS-CoV-2 virus and contributing to the transmission and spread of the disease globally 4 .…”

“…Recent research has found that front-line healthcare professionals utilise mobile phones regularly at work, including bathrooms, and 57% confirmed they never clean their devices 6 . In a recent Chinese study, positive presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was found on mobile phones of asymptomatic COVID-19 patients, a positive finding that was in correlation with faecal based viral presence in their stool and raising further concerns relating to the use of mobile phone in bathrooms 7 . Additionally, many studies have reported the presence of viable drug resistant organisms on mobile phones used in health care settings 4 .…”

Environmental Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Virus RNA in Health Facilities in Brazil and a Systematic Review on Contamination Sources

“…The most significant concern regarding SARS-CoV-2 is its transmission through aerosols and direct contact [5], which is associated with environmental conditions and human behavior [6,7]. However, several studies reported a correlation between the number of daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 and the environmental viability of the virus [8,9]. Therefore, the spread control of SARS-CoV-2 is a global challenge, and the evidence of its circulation on the inanimate surfaces are important to reinforce public health measures to limit transmission of the virus [5,[10][11][12][13].…”