Viable mpox virus in the environment of a patient room. (June 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Marimuthu, Kalisvar; Wong, Judith Chui Ching; Lim, Poh Lian; Octavia, Sophie; Huan, Xiaowei; Ng, Yi Kai; Yang, Jun Jing; Sutjipto, Stephanie; Linn, Kyaw Zaw; Setoh, Yin Xiang; Ong, Chong Hui Clara; Griffiths, Jane; Farhanah, Sharifah; Cheok, Thai Shawn; Sulaiman, Nur Ashikin Binti; Congcong, Sipaco Barbara; Neves, Erica Sena; Loo, Liang Hui; Hakim, Luqman; Sim, Shuzhen; Lim, Merrill; Nazeem, Mohammad; Vasoo, Shawn; Tham, Kwok Wai; Ng, Oon Tek; Ng, Lee Ching
• Is Part Of: International journal of infectious diseases. Volume 131(2023)
• Page Start: 40
• Page End: 45
• Publication Date: 2023-06
• Subjects: Mpox virus (MPXV) -- Environmental contamination -- Modes of transmission -- Surface contamination -- Airborne transmission -- Formite; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.03.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1201-9712

Abstract

Highlights: Environmental swab and dust sampling showed extensive surface contamination of the hospital room by mpox virus (MPXV). MPXV DNA was consistently detected in almost all air samplers, though they were not culturable. Degree of surface, dust, and air contamination by mpox gradually declined after the first week of illness. The detection of MPXV DNA from wastewater in the sink traps suggests that mpox may potentially be detected in wastewater. Abstract: We conducted a prospective environmental surveillance study to investigate the air, surface, dust, and water contamination of a room occupied by a patient infected with mpox virus (MPXV) at various stages of the illness. The patient tested positive for MPXV from a throat swab and skin lesions. Environmental sampling was conducted in a negative pressure room with 12 unidirectional high efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA) air changes per hour and daily cleaning of the surfaces. A total of 179 environmental samples were collected on days 7, 8, 13, and 21 of illness. Among the days of sampling, air, surface, and dust contamination showed the highest contamination rates on day 7 and 8 of illness, with a gradual decline to the lowest contamination level by day 21. Viable MPXV was isolated from surfaces and dust samples and no viable virus was isolated from the air and water samples.