ArticleThe Journal of hospital infection2020
Environmental contamination in the isolation rooms of COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilation or high-flow oxygen therapy.
Article in The Journal of hospital infection, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 47 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
47 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 116 citations in OpenAlex.
- A review on measurements of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material in air in outdoor and indoor environments: Implication for airborne transmission.The Science of the total environment · 2022Pooled it
- SARS-CoV-2: a systematic review of indoor air sampling for virus detection.Environmental science and pollution research international · 2021Pooled it
- Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on inanimate surfaces: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European journal of epidemiology · 2021Pooled it
- Assessment of Air Contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in Hospital Settings.JAMA network open · 2020Pooled it
- SARS-CoV-2 Surface Contamination and Viable Virus in High-Ventilation Single Rooms: Implications for Fomite Transmission.Juntendo medical journal · 2026Article
- Air, surface, and wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2; a multimodal evaluation of COVID-19 detection in a built environment.Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology · 2025Article
- Article
- Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP): An Innovative Approach for the Environmental Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2.Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- The role of ion dissolution in metal and metal oxide surface inactivation of SARS-CoV-2.Applied and environmental microbiology · 2024Article
- Article
- A narrative review of alternative transmission routes of COVID 19: what we know so far.Pathogens and global health · 2023Review
- Occurrence of Human Viruses on Fomites in the Environment: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.ACS environmental Au · 2023Review
- Real-life lack of evidence of viable SARS-CoV-2 transmission via inanimate surfaces: The SURFACE study.Journal of infection and public health · 2023Article
- Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the workplace: Key findings from a rapid review of the literature.Aerosol science and technology : the journal of the American Association for Aerosol Research · 2023Article
- Closed Endotracheal Suction Systems for COVID-19: Rapid Review.Interactive journal of medical research · 2023Review
- Article
- The Management of Infectious Pulmonary Processes in the Emergency Department: Pneumonia.Physician assistant clinics · 2023Review
- Effectiveness of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia: The Primary Results of a Randomised Clinical Trial.Journal of clinical medicine · 2022Article
- The role of clinical engineers in the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.Global health & medicine · 2022Article
- SARS-CoV-2 air and surface contamination in residential settings.Scientific reports · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
19 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIdentifying the extent of environmental contamination of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is essential for infection control and prevention. The extent of environmental contamination has not been fully investigated in the context of severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients.
aimTo investigate environmental SARS-CoV-2 contamination in the isolation rooms of severe COVID-19 patients requiring mechanical ventilation or high-flow oxygen therapy.
methodsEnvironmental swab samples and air samples were collected from the isolation rooms of three COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia. Patients 1 and 2 received mechanical ventilation with a closed suction system, while patient 3 received high-flow oxygen therapy and non-invasive ventilation. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) was used to detect SARS-CoV-2; viral cultures were performed for samples not negative on rRT-PCR.
findingsOf the 48 swab samples collected in the rooms of patients 1 and 2, only samples from the outside surfaces of the endotracheal tubes tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by rRT-PCR. However, in patient 3's room, 13 of the 28 environmental samples (fomites, fixed structures, and ventilation exit on the ceiling) showed positive results. Air samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2. Viable viruses were identified on the surface of the endotracheal tube of patient 1 and seven sites in patient 3's room.
conclusionEnvironmental contamination of SARS-CoV-2 may be a route of viral transmission. However, it might be minimized when patients receive mechanical ventilation with a closed suction system. These findings can provide evidence for guidelines for the safe use of personal protective equipment.
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