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Low Risk of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Transmission by Fomites: A Clinical Observational Study in Highly Infectious Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients.
Meister, Toni Luise; Dreismeier, Marielen; Blanco, Elena Vidal; Brüggemann, Yannick; Heinen, Natalie; Kampf, Günter; Todt, Daniel; Nguyen, Huu Phuc; Steinmann, Jörg; Schmidt, Wolfgang Ekkehard; Steinmann, Eike; Quast, Daniel Robert; Pfaender, Stephanie.
  • Meister TL; Department for Molecular & Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
  • Dreismeier M; Department of Medicine I, St. Josef-Hospital Bochum, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
  • Blanco EV; Department for Molecular & Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
  • Brüggemann Y; Department for Molecular & Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
  • Heinen N; Department for Molecular & Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
  • Kampf G; Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
  • Todt D; Department for Molecular & Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
  • Nguyen HP; European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany.
  • Steinmann J; Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
  • Schmidt WE; Institute of Clinical Hygiene, Medical Microbiology and Infectiology, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg, Germany.
  • Steinmann E; Department of Medicine I, St. Josef-Hospital Bochum, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
  • Quast DR; Department for Molecular & Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
  • Pfaender S; Department of Medicine I, St. Josef-Hospital Bochum, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
J Infect Dis ; 226(9): 1608-1615, 2022 11 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1886449
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

The contribution of droplet-contaminated surfaces for virus transmission has been discussed controversially in the context of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. More importantly, the risk of fomite-based transmission has not been systematically addressed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether confirmed hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients can contaminate stainless steel carriers by coughing or intensive moistening with saliva and to assess the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission upon detection of viral loads and infectious virus in cell culture.

METHODS:

We initiated a single-center observational study including 15 COVID-19 patients with a high baseline viral load (cycle threshold value ≤25). We documented clinical and laboratory parameters and used patient samples to perform virus culture, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and virus sequencing.

RESULTS:

Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs of all patients were positive for viral ribonucleic acid on the day of the study. Infectious SARS-CoV-2 could be isolated from 6 patient swabs (46.2%). After coughing, no infectious virus could be recovered, however, intensive moistening with saliva resulted in successful viral recovery from steel carriers of 5 patients (38.5%).

CONCLUSIONS:

Transmission of infectious SARS-CoV-2 via fomites is possible upon extensive moistening, but it is unlikely to occur in real-life scenarios and from droplet-contaminated fomites.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Communicable Diseases / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: J Infect Dis Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Infdis

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Communicable Diseases / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: J Infect Dis Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Infdis