SARS-CoV-2 air and surface contamination in residential settings

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs mainly indoors, through virus-laden airborne particles. Although the presence and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosol are now acknowledged, the underlying circumstances for its occurrence are still under investigation. The contamination of domiciliary environments during the isolation of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients in their respective rooms in individual houses and in a nursing home was investigated by collecting surface and air samples in these environments. Surface contamination was detected in different contexts, both on high and low-touch surfaces. To determine the presence of virus particles in the air, two sampling methodologies were used: air and deposition sampling. Positive deposition samples were found in sampling locations above the patient’s height, and SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in impactation air samples within a size fraction below 2.5 μm. Surface samples rendered the highest positivity rate and persistence for a longer period. The presence of aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 RNA occurred mainly in deposition samples and closer to symptom onset. To evaluate the infectivity of selected positive samples, SARS-CoV-2 viability assays were performed, but our study was not able to validate the virus viability. The presented results confirm the presence of aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 RNA in indoor compartments occupied by COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms, in the absence of aerosol-generating clinical procedures.

Monitoring Prevalence and Persistence of Environmental Contamination by SARS-CoV-2 RNA in a Makeshift Hospital for Asymptomatic and Very Mild COVID-19 Patients

“…Positive results for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the air have been found with all the different known methods available, such as filter-based samplers, impingers, impactors, cyclones, water-based condensation, and passive sampling [ 31 – 34 ]. In the present study, indoor air SARS-CoV-2 particles of the makeshift hospital were sampled simultaneously by two different methods, air sampler and natural sedimentation [ 35 – 37 ]. The air sampling results of this study showed that 48.19% (80/166) of air samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR, moreover, air samplers (43/60, 71.67%) were more efficient than natural sedimentation (37/106, 34.91%).…”

PVC containing silver nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties effective against SARS-CoV-2

“…The development of polymer nanocomposites by using antimicrobial agents in the nanoscale can be an alternative way to avoid this problem. In concern of COVID-19 spreading, such technological approaches to develop self-sanitizing PVC are suitable to avoid the secondary routes of COVID-19 contagion, mainly in hospitals and healthcare clinics that involve touching a contaminated surface and then contamination with dirty hands as extensively reviewed in the literature ( Marquès and Domingo, 2021 ; Correia et al, 2022 ).…”

Risk assessment of airborne virus transmission in an intensive care unit due to single and sequential coughing

“…Villafruela et al (2013) numerically investigated the effect of different configurations of air diffusers and exhausts on the transportation of the particles in an isolation room. Correia et al (2022) investigated air and surface contamination in residential environments due to COVID-19. Surface contamination provided the highest positivity/infection rate and persistence for extended periods.…”

“…Correia et al. (2022) investigated air and surface contamination in residential environments due to COVID‐19. Surface contamination provided the highest positivity/infection rate and persistence for extended periods.…”