Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33436105›Full record

ArticleAntimicrobial resistance and infection control2021

Bacterial but no SARS-CoV-2 contamination after terminal disinfection of tertiary care intensive care units treating COVID-19 patients.

Daniel A Hofmaenner, Pedro David Wendel Garcia, Branko Duvnjak, Bhavya Chakrakodi, Julian D Maier, Michael Huber, Jon Huder, Aline Wolfensberger, Peter W Schreiber, Reto A Schuepbach and 4 more

Abstract readEvaluation Study
In one paragraph

Article in Antimicrobial resistance and infection control, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Exploring novel kinetics of automated HMicrobiology spectrum · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Daniel A HofmaennerInstitute of Intensive Care, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
Pedro David Wendel GarciaInstitute of Intensive Care, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
Branko DuvnjakDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
Bhavya ChakrakodiDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
Julian D MaierDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
Michael HuberInstitute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
Jon HuderInstitute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
Aline WolfensbergerDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
Peter W SchreiberDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
Reto A SchuepbachInstitute of Intensive Care, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
Annelies S ZinkernagelDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
Philipp K BuehlerInstitute of Intensive Care, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
Silvio D BruggerDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland. silvio.brugger@usz.ch.ORCID 0000-0001-9492-9088
COVID-19 ICU-Research Group Zurich

Funding

Promedica Stiftung 1449/MUniversität Zürich Filling the Gap
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn intensive care units (ICUs) treating patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) invasive ventilation poses a high risk for aerosol and droplet formation. Surface contamination of severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or bacteria can result in nosocomial transmission.

methodsTwo tertiary care COVID-19 intensive care units treating 53 patients for 870 patient days were sampled after terminal cleaning and preparation for regular use to treat non-COVID-19 patients.

resultsA total of 176 swabs were sampled of defined locations covering both ICUs. No SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA) was detected. Gram-negative bacterial contamination was mainly linked to sinks and siphons. Skin flora was isolated from most swabbed areas and Enterococcus faecium was detected on two keyboards.

conclusionsAfter basic cleaning with standard disinfection measures no remaining SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected. Bacterial contamination was low and mainly localised in sinks and siphons.

Indexed as

AerosolsBacteriaCOVID-19Cross InfectionDisinfectionEquipment ContaminationFemaleHumansIntensive Care UnitsMaleMiddle AgedSARS-CoV-2Tertiary Health CareAerosolsDisinfectionHospital epidemiologyHydrogen peroxide nebulisationICUNosocomial infectionSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID33436105
PMCPMC7802978

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.