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Positive no-touch surfaces and undetectable SARS-CoV-2 aerosols in long-term care facilities: An attempt to understand the contributing factors and the importance of timing in air sampling campaigns.
Dumont-Leblond, Nathan; Veillette, Marc; Bhérer, Luc; Boissoneault, Karine; Mubareka, Samira; Yip, Lily; Dubuis, Marie-Eve; Longtin, Yves; Jouvet, Philippe; McGeer, Alison; Duchaine, Caroline.
  • Dumont-Leblond N; Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
  • Veillette M; Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
  • Bhérer L; Centre Intégré Universitaire en Santé et Services Sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
  • Boissoneault K; Centre Intégré Universitaire en Santé et Services Sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
  • Mubareka S; Sunnybrook Research Institute and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, ON, Canada.
  • Yip L; Sunnybrook Research Institute and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, ON, Canada.
  • Dubuis ME; Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
  • Longtin Y; Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada; Lady Davis Research Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada.
  • Jouvet P; Université de Montréal, St. Justine Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Montreal, QC, Canada.
  • McGeer A; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
  • Duchaine C; Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada; Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada; Canada Research Chair on Bioaerosols, Q
Am J Infect Control ; 49(6): 701-706, 2021 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1081407
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Long-term care facilities (LTCF) are environments particularly favorable to coronavirus disease (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic outbreaks, due to the at-risk population they welcome and the close proximity of residents. Yet, the transmission dynamics of the disease in these establishments remain unclear.

METHODS:

Air and no-touch surfaces of 31 rooms from 7 LTCFs were sampled and SARS-CoV-2 was quantified by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).

RESULTS:

Air samples were negative but viral genomes were recovered from 20 of 62 surface samples at concentrations ranging from 13 to 36,612 genomes/surface. Virus isolation (culture) from surface samples (n = 7) was negative.

CONCLUSIONS:

The presence of viral RNA on no-touch surfaces is evidence of viral dissemination through air, but the lack of airborne viral particles in air samples suggests that they were not aerosolized in a significant manner during air sampling sessions. The air samples were collected 8 to 30 days after the residents' symptom onset, which could indicate that viruses are aerosolized early in the infection process. Additional research is needed to evaluate viral viability conservation and the potential role of direct contact and aerosols in SARS-CoV-2 transmission in these institutions.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Am J Infect Control Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.ajic.2021.02.004

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Am J Infect Control Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.ajic.2021.02.004