Detection of SARS-CoV-2 on Surfaces in Households of Persons with COVID-19

Marcenac, Perrine; Park, Geun Woo; Duca, Lindsey M.; Lewis, Nathaniel M.; Dietrich, Elizabeth A.; Tamin, Azaibi; Harcourt, Jennifer L.; Thornburg, Natalie J.; Rispens, Jared R.; Matanock, Almea; Kiphibane, Tair; Christensen, Kimberly; Pawloski, Lucia; Fry, Alicia M.; Hall, Aron J.; Tate, Jacqueline E.; Vinjé, Jan; Kirking, Hannah L.; Pevzner, Eric

doi:10.3390/ijerph18158184

Cited by 40 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Despite existing COVID-19 control measures, surface sampling identified potential deficiencies in routine disinfection procedures that informed targeted strengthening of infection control practices to support workplace re-opening. Similar to other SARS-CoV-2 outbreak studies, relatively low-level contamination was identified even in locations associated with recent occupancy of symptomatic people [5][6][7][8][9][10]. No positive surface sample yielded complete genome sequence suggesting degradation of the viral genome and a lack of transmission potential at the time of sampling.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

An outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in a public-facing office in England, 2021

Atkinson¹,

Veldhoven

Nicholls³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Between August-September 2021, an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, with an attack rate of 55% (22/40 workers), occurred in a public-facing office in England. To identify workplace and worker-related risk factors, a comprehensive investigation involving surface sampling, environmental assessment, molecular and serological testing, and worker questionnaires was performed between 3 September and 27 October 2021. The results affirm the utility of surface sampling to identify SARS-CoV-2 control deficiencies and the importance of evolving, site-specific risk assessments with layered COVID-19 mitigation strategies.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

An outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in a public-facing office in England, 2021

Atkinson¹,

Veldhoven

Nicholls³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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“…Of 63 studies testing for SARS-CoV-2 RNA on surfaces, only 13 attempted to isolate infectious virus. Of these, viable SARS-CoV-2 virus was identified in only four instances: frozen cod packaging ( Liu et al, 2020 ), a nightstand of an infected case ( Marcenac et al, 2021 ), an isolation room of patients undergoing mechanical ventilation ( Ahn et al, 2020 ), and on a windowsill of a patient's quarantine unit ( Santarpia et al, 2020 ). In a cold-chain food setting, evidence is lacking on the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 contamination on packaging and the infection risks to workers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decontamination of SARS-CoV-2 from cold-chain food packaging provides no marginal benefit in risk reduction to food workers

et al. 2022

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Countries continue to debate the need for decontamination of cold-chain food packaging to reduce possible severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) fomite transmission among frontline workers. While laboratory-based studies demonstrate persistence of SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces, the likelihood of fomite-mediated transmission under real-life conditions is uncertain. Using a quantitative microbial risk assessment model of a frozen food packaging facility, we simulated 1) SARS-CoV-2 fomite-mediated infection risks following worker exposure to contaminated plastic packaging; and 2) reductions in these risks from masking, handwashing, and vaccination. In a frozen food facility without interventions, SARS-CoV-2 infection risk to a susceptible worker from contact with contaminated packaging was 1.5 × 10 −3 per 1h-period (5th – 95th percentile: 9.2 × 10 −6 , 1.2 × 10 −2 ). Standard food industry infection control interventions, handwashing and masking, reduced risk (99.4%) to 8.5 × 10 −6 risk per 1h-period (5th – 95th percentile: 2.8 × 10 −8 , 6.6 × 10 −5 ). Vaccination of the susceptible worker (two doses Pfizer/Moderna, vaccine effectiveness: 86–99%) with handwashing and masking reduced risk to 5.2 × 10 −7 risk per 1h-period (5th – 95th percentile: 1.8 × 10 −9 , 5.4 × 10 −6 ). Simulating increased transmissibility of current and future variants (Delta, Omicron), (2-, 10-fold viral shedding) among a fully vaccinated workforce, handwashing and masking continued to mitigate risk (1.4 × 10 −6 - 8.8 × 10 −6 risk per 1h-period). Additional decontamination of frozen food plastic packaging reduced infection risks to 1.2 × 10 −8 risk per 1h-period (5th – 95th percentile: 1.9 × 10 −11 , 9.5 × 10 −8 ). Given that standard infection control interventions reduced risks well below 1 × 10 −4 (World Health Organization water quality risk thresholds), additional packaging decontamination suggest no marginal benefit in risk reduction. Consequences of this decontamination may include increased chemical exposures to workers, food quality and hazard risks to consumers, and unnecessary added costs to governments and the global food industry.

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“…The transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from contaminated surfaces or fomites has been a concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. Households have been important sites of SARS-CoV-2 transmission due to prolonged contact with an infected person and environmental contamination in these settings [38].…”

Section: Sars-cov-2 In Households With Covid-19 Casesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection rates varied from 0% to 37.5%. Most of the Ct values were ≥30 (30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39), which assumes a low viral load. The investigation confirmed that 9/15 (60.0%) of the tested locations were contaminated with SARS-CoV-2, with one or more positive samples per location.…”

Section: Sars-cov-2 In Households With Covid-19 Casesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging Trends in the Epidemiology of COVID-19: The Croatian ‘One Health’ Perspective

Vilibić-Čavlek

Stevanović

Brlek-Gorski

et al. 2021

Viruses

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During the four pandemic waves, a total of 560,504 cases and 10,178 deaths due to COVID-19 were reported in Croatia. The Alpha variant, dominant from March 2021 (>50% of positive samples), was rapidly replaced by Delta variants (>90%) by August 2021. Several seroprevalence studies were conducted in different populations (general population, children/adolescents, professional athletes, healthcare workers, veterinarians) and in immunocompromised patients (hemodialysis patients, liver/kidney transplant recipients). After the first pandemic wave, seroprevalence rates of neutralizing (NT) antibodies were reported to be 0.2–5.5%. Significantly higher seropositivity was detected during/after the second wave, 2.6–18.7%. Two studies conducted in pet animals (February-June 2020/July–December 2020) reported SARS-CoV-2 NT antibodies in 0.76% of cats and 0.31–14.69% of dogs, respectively. SARS-CoV-2 NT antibodies were not detected in wildlife. Environmental samples taken in the households of COVID-19 patients showed high-touch personal objects as most frequently contaminated (17.3%), followed by surfaces in patients’ rooms (14.6%), kitchens (13.3%) and bathrooms (8.3%). SARS-CoV-2 RNA was also detected in 96.8% affluent water samples, while all effluent water samples tested negative. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in humans, animals and the environment suggests that the ‘One Health’ approach is critical to controlling COVID-19 and future pandemics.

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Detection of SARS-CoV-2 on Surfaces in Households of Persons with COVID-19

Cited by 40 publications

References 27 publications

An outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in a public-facing office in England, 2021

An outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in a public-facing office in England, 2021

Decontamination of SARS-CoV-2 from cold-chain food packaging provides no marginal benefit in risk reduction to food workers

Emerging Trends in the Epidemiology of COVID-19: The Croatian ‘One Health’ Perspective

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