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Asymptomatic COVID-19 Patients Can Contaminate Their Surroundings: an Environment Sampling Study.
Wei, Li; Lin, Ji; Duan, Xiaofei; Huang, Wenzhi; Lu, Xiaojun; Zhou, Juan; Zong, Zhiyong.
  • Wei L; Department of Infection Control, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
  • Lin J; Department of Infection Control, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
  • Duan X; Department of Infection Control, Chengdu Public Health Clinical Medical Center, Chengdu, China.
  • Huang W; Department of Infection Control, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
  • Lu X; Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
  • Zhou J; Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
  • Zong Z; Department of Infection Control, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China zongzhiy@scu.edu.cn.
mSphere ; 5(3)2020 06 24.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2193484
ABSTRACT
The contamination of patients' surroundings by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains understudied. We sampled the surroundings and the air of six negative-pressure non-intensive care unit (non-ICU) rooms in a designated isolation ward in Chengdu, China, that were occupied by 13 laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients who had returned from overseas travel, including 2 asymptomatic patients. A total of 44 of 112 (39.3%) surface samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 as detected by real-time PCR, suggesting extensive contamination, although all of the air samples were negative. In particular, in a single room occupied by an asymptomatic patient, four sites were SARS-CoV-2 positive, highlighting that asymptomatic COVID-19 patients do contaminate their surroundings and impose risks for others with close contact. Placement of COVID-19 patients in rooms with negative pressure may bring a false feeling of safety, and the importance of rigorous environment cleaning should be emphasized.IMPORTANCE Although it has been well recognized that the virus SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, can be acquired by exposure to fomites, surprisingly, the contamination of patients' surroundings by SARS-CoV-2 is largely unknown, as there have been few studies. We performed an environmental sampling study for 13 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients and found extensive contamination of patients' surroundings. In particular, we found that asymptomatic COVID-19 patients contaminated their surroundings and therefore imposed risks for other people. Environment cleaning should be emphasized in negative-pressure rooms. The findings may be useful to guide infection control practice to protect health care workers.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pneumonia, Viral / Coronavirus Infections / Environmental Exposure / Environmental Microbiology / Asymptomatic Infections / Betacoronavirus Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Language: English Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Msphere.00442-20

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pneumonia, Viral / Coronavirus Infections / Environmental Exposure / Environmental Microbiology / Asymptomatic Infections / Betacoronavirus Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Language: English Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Msphere.00442-20