Evaluation of the exposure risk of SARS-CoV-2 in different hospital environment. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ge, Xing-Yi; Pu, Ying; Liao, Ce-Heng; Huang, Wen-Fen; Zeng, Qi; Zhou, Hui; Yi, Bin; Wang, Ai-Min; Dou, Qing-Ya; Zhou, Peng-Cheng; Chen, Hui-Ling; Liu, Hui-Xia; Xu, Dao-Miao; Chen, Xiang; Huang, Xun
• Is Part Of: Sustainable cities and society. Volume 61(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- SARS-CoV-2 -- Nucleic acid test -- HCWs -- Occupational exposure risk; Sustainable urban development -- Periodicals; Sustainable buildings -- Periodicals; Urban ecology (Sociology) -- Periodicals; 307.76
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2020.102413
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2210-6707

Abstract

Highlights: The exposure risk of SARS-CoV-2 in diverse environments in hospital was compared. The nucleic acid of SARS-CoV-2 in air and surfaces suggested the potential risk. It is necessary to monitor and disinfect the SARS-CoV-2 in hospital environment. Ventilation, sterilization may help to reduce the potential risk for HCWs. Different strategies were discussed in combating infectious disease. Abstract: The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has imposed a significant impact on social and economic activities. As a high infectious pathogen, the existence of SARS-CoV-2 in public space is very important for its transmission. During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals are the main places to deal with the diseases. In this work, we evaluated the exposure risk of SARS-CoV-2 in hospital environment in order to protect healthcare workers (HCWs). Briefly, air and surface samples from 6 different sites of 3 hospitals with different protection levels were collected and tested for the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid by reverse transcription real-time fluorescence PCR method during the COVID-19 epidemic. We found that the positive rate of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid was 7.7 % in a COVID-19 respiratory investigation wards and 82.6 % in a ICUs with confirmed COVID-19 patients. These results indicated that in some wards of the hospital, such as ICUs occupied by COVID-19 patients, the nucleic acid of SARS-CoV-2 existed in the air and surface, which indicates the potential occupational exposure risk of HCWs. This study has clarified retention of SARS-CoV-2 in different sites of hospital, suggesting that it is necessary to monitor and disinfect the SARS-CoV-2 in hospital environment during COVID-19 pandemic, and will help to prevent the iatrogenic infection and nosocomial transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and to better protect the HCWs.