Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40621409›Full record

ArticleGhana medical journal2025

Detection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on frequently touched surfaces in selected areas in Accra, Ghana.

Ivy A Asante, Vanessa Magnusen, Isaac Darban, Michael Oppong-Atuahene, Joseph A Quarcoo, Nana A A Ntim, Isabella Asamoah, Kwamena Wc Sagoe, Joseph O Commey, Mildred A Adusei-Poku

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In one paragraph

Article in Ghana medical journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

10 authors.

Ivy A AsanteVirology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Vanessa MagnusenVirology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Isaac DarbanDepartment of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Korle-Bu, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Michael Oppong-AtuaheneDepartment of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Korle-Bu, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Joseph A QuarcooVirology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Nana A A NtimVirology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Isabella AsamoahVirology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Kwamena Wc SagoeDepartment of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Korle-Bu, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Joseph O CommeyGhana Infectious Diseases Centre (GIDC), Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, Accra, Ghana.
Mildred A Adusei-PokuDepartment of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Korle-Bu, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material on frequently touched surfaces in Accra and assess its potential infectivity. It evaluated whether detected viruses were viable, providing insights into the possible role of environmental surfaces in COVID-19 transmission. Design: A cross-sectional study with a convenient sampling approach. Setting: Conducted in clinical (two COVID-19 isolation centres and a testing laboratory) and non-clinical (two schools and two banks) settings in Accra, Ghana, from May to September 2022. Intervention: Frequently touched surfaces were sampled at two points: morning (before disinfection) and afternoon (after work). Sterile oropharyngeal swabs moistened in Universal Transport Medium were used to swab surfaces like door handles, tables, handrails, taps, benches, washrooms, classrooms, and banking halls. RT-qPCR was used to detect viral RNA, and Vero E6 cells were used to attempt virus isolation from positive samples. Results: SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected on 6.29% (37/588) of surfaces. Morning samples showed a positive rate of 4.08% (12/294), while afternoon samples showed a rate of 8.50% (25/294). Clinical settings had higher detection rates (7.5%) than non-clinical (3.41%), though not statistically significant (p = 0.060). The testing lab showed a significant difference between morning (2.08%) and afternoon (8.05%) detections. Positive samples were most commonly found on plastics (14/37) and metals (14/37). Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 RNA was identified on frequently touched surfaces in selected areas of Accra, Ghana. This highlights the need for thorough hygiene and disinfection practices to prevent the spread of potential viruses. Funding: Study was funded by the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) through the NMIMR Office for Research Support Fund (Fund ID EC/P25421/03).

Indexed as

COVID-19SARS-CoV-2AnimalsChlorocebus aethiopsCross-Sectional StudiesGhanaHumansRNA, ViralVero CellsRNA, ViralCOVID-19Hygienic practicesSARS-CoV-2touched surfacestreatment centre

Identifiers

PMID40621409
PMCPMC12224213

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Registered trials

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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.