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Environmental contamination and evaluation of healthcare-associated SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk in temporary isolation wards during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wee, Liang En; Arora, Shalvi; Ko, Karrie Kwan-Ki; Conceicao, Edwin Philip; Coleman, Kristen K; Tan, Kwee Yuen; Tohid, Hatijah Binti; Liu, Qinnan; Tung, Grace Li Teng; See, Shawn Wee Jin; Suphavilai, Chayaporn; Ling, Moi Lin; Venkatachalam, Indumathi.
  • Wee LE; Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore. Electronic address: ian.wee.l.e@singhealth.com.sg.
  • Arora S; Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
  • Ko KK; Department of Molecular Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore; Department of Microbiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore; Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.
  • Conceicao EP; Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
  • Coleman KK; School of Public Health, University of Maryland, USA.
  • Tan KY; Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
  • Tohid HB; Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
  • Liu Q; Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
  • Tung GLT; Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.
  • See SWJ; Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
  • Suphavilai C; Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.
  • Ling ML; Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
  • Venkatachalam I; Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore; Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Am J Infect Control ; 51(4): 413-419, 2023 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2286440
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Temporary isolation wards have been introduced to meet demands for airborne-infection-isolation-rooms (AIIRs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Environmental sampling and outbreak investigation was conducted in temporary isolation wards converted from general wards and/or prefabricated containers, in order to evaluate the ability of such temporary isolation wards to safely manage COVID-19 cases over a period of sustained use.

METHODS:

Environmental sampling for SARS-CoV-2 RNA was conducted in temporary isolation ward rooms constructed from pre-fabricated containers (N = 20) or converted from normal-pressure general wards (N = 47). Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was utilized to ascertain health care-associated transmission when clusters were reported amongst HCWs working in isolation areas from July 2020 to December 2021.

RESULTS:

A total of 355 environmental swabs were collected; 22.4% (15/67) of patients had at least one positive environmental sample. Patients housed in temporary isolation ward rooms constructed from pre-fabricated containers (adjusted-odds-ratio, aOR = 10.46, 95% CI = 3.89-58.91, P = .008) had greater odds of detectable environmental contamination, with positive environmental samples obtained from the toilet area (60.0%, 12/20) and patient equipment, including electronic devices used for patient communication (8/20, 40.0%). A single HCW cluster was reported amongst staff working in the temporary isolation ward constructed from pre-fabricated containers; however, health care-associated transmission was deemed unlikely based on WGS and/or epidemiological investigations.

CONCLUSION:

Environmental contamination with SARS-CoV-2 RNA was observed in temporary isolation wards, particularly from the toilet area and smartphones used for patient communication. However, despite intensive surveillance, no healthcare-associated transmission was detected in temporary isolation wards over 18 months of prolonged usage, demonstrating their capacity for sustained use during succeeding pandemic waves.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Am J Infect Control Year: 2023 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Am J Infect Control Year: 2023 Document Type: Article