Bioaerosol Sampling for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in a Referral Center with Critically Ill Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Patients March-May 2020

Details

• Personal Author:
  Ayers M ; Babiker A ; Brownsword EA ; Ingersoll JM ; Klopman M ; Kraft CS ; Lane MA ; Lindsley, William G. ; Uyeki TM ; Waggoner J
• Description:
  Background: Previous research has shown that rooms of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) present the potential for healthcare-associated transmission through aerosols containing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, data on the presence of these aerosols outside of patient rooms are limited. We investigated whether virus-containing aerosols were present in nursing stations and patient room hallways in a referral center with critically ill COVID-19 patients. Methods: Eight National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health BC 251 2-stage cyclone samplers were set up throughout 6 units, including nursing stations and visitor corridors in intensive care units and general medical units, for 6 h each sampling period. Samplers were placed on tripods which held 2 samplers positioned 102 cm and 152 cm above the floor. Units were sampled for 3 days. Extracted samples underwent reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for selected gene regions of the SARS-CoV-2 virus nucleocapsid and the housekeeping gene human RNase P as an internal control. Results: The units sampled varied in the number of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients present on the days of sampling. Some of the units included patient rooms under negative pressure, while most were maintained at a neutral pressure. Of 528 aerosol samples collected, none were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by the estimated limit of detection of 8 viral copies/m3 of air. Conclusions: Aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 outside of patient rooms was undetectable. While healthcare personnel should avoid unmasked close contact with each other, these findings may provide reassurance for the use of alternatives to tight-fitting respirators in areas outside of patient rooms during the current pandemic. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Communicable Diseases Genetics Health Care Facilities Workforce And Services Health Personnel Hospitals Occupational Health Safety Viral Diseases
• Keywords:
  Airborne Transmission Author Keywords: COVID-19 Bioaerosols COVID-19 Genes Health Care Facilities Health Care Personnel Health Care Workers Hospital Medical Facilities Nurses Nursing Samplers Sampling Viral Diseases

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• ISSN:
  1058-4838
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  73
• Issue:
  7
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20061971
• Citation:
  Clin Infect Dis 2021 Oct; 73(7):e1790-e1794
• Contact Point Address:
  Morgan A. Lane, MPH, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Emory University, Atlanta, GA
• Email:
  morgan.a.lane@emory.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• NORA Priority Area:
  Healthcare and Social Assistance
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Clinical Infectious Diseases
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e332fa5674fe2d7527fd6ee716cf2a3a2b0dea454caa1dbda46e4f286f069a7e7a33da1de1113c52b2a3f41b85c994bb0ff08bb788392ebd62361b50642b08e4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/225301/cdc_225301_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 173.89 KB ]