Detection of air and surface contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in hospital rooms of infected patients

Po Ying Chia, Kristen Kelli 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 Schuster, Timothy Barkham, Partha Pratim De, Shawn Vasoo, Monica Chan, Brenda Sze Peng Ang, Boon Huan Tan, Yee-Sin Leo, Oon-Tek Ng (), Michelle Su Yen Wong and Kalisvar Marimuthu ()
Additional contact information
Po Ying Chia: National Centre for Infectious Diseases
Kristen Kelli Coleman: National University of Singapore
Yian Kim Tan: DSO National Laboratories
Sean Wei Xiang Ong: National Centre for Infectious Diseases
Marcus Gum: DSO National Laboratories
Sok Kiang Lau: DSO National Laboratories
Xiao Fang Lim: DSO National Laboratories
Ai Sim Lim: DSO National Laboratories
Stephanie Sutjipto: National Centre for Infectious Diseases
Pei Hua Lee: National Centre for Infectious Diseases
Than The Son: National University of Singapore
Barnaby Edward Young: National Centre for Infectious Diseases
Donald K. Milton: University of Maryland School of Public Health
Gregory C. Gray: National University of Singapore
Stephan Schuster: Nanyang Technological University
Timothy Barkham: Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Partha Pratim De: Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Shawn Vasoo: National Centre for Infectious Diseases
Monica Chan: National Centre for Infectious Diseases
Brenda Sze Peng Ang: National Centre for Infectious Diseases
Boon Huan Tan: DSO National Laboratories
Yee-Sin Leo: National Centre for Infectious Diseases
Oon-Tek Ng: National Centre for Infectious Diseases
Michelle Su Yen Wong: DSO National Laboratories
Kalisvar Marimuthu: National Centre for Infectious Diseases

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-7

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, χ2 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.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16670-2

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