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BackgroundThe contribution of droplet-contaminated surfaces for virus transmission has been discussed controversially in the context of the current Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Importantly, the risk of fomite-based transmission has not been systematically addressed. MethodsWe initiated this single-center observational study to evaluate whether hospitalized 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. Fifteen hospitalized patients with a high baseline viral load (CT value [≤] 25) shortly after admission were included. We documented clinical and laboratory parameters and used patient samples to perform virus culture, quantitative PCR and virus sequencing. ResultsNasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs of all patients were positive for viral RNA on the day of the study. Infectious SARS-CoV-2 could be isolated from 6 patient swabs (46.2 %). While after coughing, no infectious virus could be recovered, intensive moistening with saliva resulted in successful viral recovery from steel carriers of 5 patients (38.5 %). ConclusionsTransmission of infectious SARS-CoV-2 via fomites is possible upon extensive moistening, but unlikely to occur in real-life scenarios and from droplet-contaminated fomites.
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The emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants of concern with increased transmission dynamics has raised questions regarding stability and disinfection of these viruses. In this study, we analyzed surface stability and disinfection of the currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 compared to the wildtype. Treatment with heat, soap and ethanol revealed similar inactivation profiles indicative of a comparable susceptibility towards disinfection. Furthermore, we observed comparable surface stability on steel, silver, copper and face masks. Overall, our data support the application of currently recommended hygiene concepts to minimize the risk of B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 transmission.
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The current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has created a significant threat to global health. While respiratory aerosols or droplets are considered as the main route of human-to-human transmission, secretions expelled by infected individuals can also contaminate surfaces and objects, potentially creating the risk of fomite-based transmission. Consequently, frequently touched objects such as paper currency and coins have been suspected as a potential transmission vehicle. To assess the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission by banknotes and coins, we examined the stability of SARS-CoV-2 and bovine coronavirus (BCoV), as surrogate with lower biosafety restrictions, on these different means of payment and developed a touch transfer method to examine transfer efficiency from contaminated surfaces to skin. Although we observed prolonged virus stability, our results, including a novel touch transfer method, indicate that the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via contaminated coins and banknotes is unlikely and requires high viral loads and a timely order of specific events.
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The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is transmitted from person-to-person by close contact, small aerosol respiratory droplets and potentially via contact with contaminated surfaces. Here, we investigated the effectiveness of commercial UVC-LED disinfection boxes in inactivating SARS-CoV-2 contaminated surfaces of personal items. We contaminated glass, metal and plastic samples representing the surfaces of personal items such as smartphones, coins or credit cards with SARS-CoV-2 formulated in an organic matrix mimicking human respiratory secretions. For disinfection, the samples were placed at different distances from UVC emitting LEDs inside commercial UVC-LED disinfection boxes and irradiated for different time periods (up to 10 minutes). High viral loads of SARS-CoV-2 were effectively inactivated on all surfaces after 3 minutes of irradiation. Even 10 seconds of UVC-exposure strongly reduced viral loads. Thus, UVC-LED boxes proved to be an effective method for disinfecting SARS-CoV-2 contaminated surfaces that are typically found on personal items.
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In the ongoing SARS CoV-2 pandemic effective measures are needed, and guidance based on the methodological framework of the European committee for standardization (CEN) can help to choose effective disinfectants on an immediate basis. This study demonstrates that two commercially available formulations for surface disinfection and one formulation for hand disinfection claiming "virucidal activity against enveloped viruses" are effectively inactivating SARS-CoV-2. This study emphasizes that chemical disinfectants claiming "virucidal activity against enveloped viruses" are an effective choice to target enveloped SARS-CoV-2 as a preventive measure.
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The SARS-Cov-2 pandemic is triggering a global health emergency alert, and recent research is indicating the relevance of aerosols in the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Thus, in this study antiseptic mouthwashes based on the actives chlorhexidine (CHX) and octenidine (OCT) were investigated regarding their efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 using EN 14476. Based on the requirement of EN 14476 (i.e. reduction of viral titer by [≥] 4 log 10), the OCT-based formulation was effective within only 15 sec against SARS-CoV-2, and thus constitutes an interesting candidate for future clinical studies to prove its effectiveness in a potential prevention of SARS-CoV-2 transmission by aerosols.
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SARS-CoV-2 RNA has been detected in the human breast milk of infected mothers, raising concerns regarding the safety of breastfeeding upon infection. We here show that holder pasteurization inactivates SARS-CoV-2 and provides an alternative and safe option for infected mothers to continue feeding breast milk to their infants.
