ABSTRACT
The dominant SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant (B.1.617.2) became the main circulating variant among countries by mid 2021. Attention was raised to the increased risk of airborne transmission, leading to nosocomial outbreaks even among vaccinated individuals. Considering the increased number of COVID-19 hospital admissions fueled by the spread of the variant, with Spain showing the highest COVID-19 rates in mainland Europe by July 2021, the aim of this study was to assess SARS-CoV-2 environmental contamination in different areas of a University Hospital in the region of Castile-León, Spain, during the peak of the 5th wave of COVID-19 in the country (July 2021). Air samples were collected from sixteen different areas of the Hospital using a Coriolis® µ air sampler. Surface samples were collected in these same areas using sterile flocked plastic swabs. RNA extraction followed by a one-step RT-qPCR were performed for detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Of the 21 air samples, only one was positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, from the emergency waiting room. Of the 40 surface samples, 2 were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, both from the microbiology laboratory. These results may be relevant for risk assessment of nosocomial infection within healthcare facilities, thus helping prevent and minimize healthcare staff's exposure to SARS-CoV-2, reinforcing the importance of always wearing appropriate and well-fit masks at all times and proper PPE when in contact with infected patients.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Humans , COVID-19/epidemiology , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , Spain/epidemiology , RNA, Viral , Hospitals, UniversityABSTRACT
Los conjuntos bacterianos son sistemas dinámicos complejos que interactúan entre sí, y gracias a esa interacción, las bacterias coexisten, colaboran, compiten e intercambian información de forma coordinada. Una forma de comunicación de las bacterias es el quorum sensing. Mediante este mecanismo las bacterias pueden conocer su concentración en un ambiente determinado y decidir el momento en el que se va a poner en marcha la expresión de un determinado conjunto de genes con el fin de desarrollar una respuesta concreta y de forma simultánea. El resultado de estas interconexiones hace que surjan propiedades que no pueden explicarse a partir de una sola célula bacteriana aislada (AU)
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