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Published on: April 9, 2021
On-site analysis of COVID-19 on the surfaces in wards
Bin Wan1, Xinlian Zhang2, Dongxia Luo1
1Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu, No. 377 Jingming Road, Jinjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan 610066, China.
Abstract:
SARS-Cov-2 has erupted across the globe, and confirmed cases of COVID-19 pose a high infection risk. Infected patients typically receive their treatment in specific isolation wards, where they are confined for at least 14 days. The virus may contaminate any surface of the room, especially frequently touched surfaces. Therefore, surface contamination in wards should be monitored for disease control and hygiene purposes. Herein, surface contamination in the ward was detected on-site using an RNA extraction-free rapid method. The whole detection process, from surface sample collection to readout of the detection results, was finished within 45 min. The nucleic acid extraction-free method requires minimal labor. More importantly, the tests were performed on-site and the results were obtained almost in real-time. The test confirmed that 31 patients contaminated seven individual sites. Among the sampled surfaces, the electrocardiogram fingertip presented a 72.7% positive rate, indicating that this surface is an important hygiene site. Meanwhile, the bedrails showed the highest correlation with other surfaces, so should be detected daily. Another surface with high contamination risk was the door handle in the bathroom. To our knowledge, we present the first on-site analysis of COVID-19 surface contamination in wards. The results and applied technique provide a potential further reference for disease control and hygiene suggestions.
Insights
A rapid, RNA extraction-free method detected SARS-CoV-2 surface contamination in COVID-19 isolation wards within 45 minutes. This on-site testing identified high-risk surfaces like electrocardiogram fingertip, bedrails, and bathroom door handles for improved hygiene control.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Environmental Health
- Diagnostic Technologies
Background:
- The global spread of SARS-CoV-2 necessitates stringent infection control measures in healthcare settings.
- Surface contamination in isolation wards poses a significant risk for disease transmission.
- Effective monitoring of environmental hygiene is crucial for managing COVID-19 outbreaks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a rapid, on-site method for detecting SARS-CoV-2 surface contamination in hospital wards.
- To identify frequently contaminated surfaces within COVID-19 isolation rooms.
- To provide data for enhancing hygiene protocols and disease control strategies.
Main Methods:
- An RNA extraction-free, rapid detection method was employed for on-site surface sampling.
- The entire process, from sample collection to result readout, was completed within 45 minutes.
- Multiple surfaces within isolation wards were systematically sampled and tested.
Main Results:
- The rapid on-site test successfully detected SARS-CoV-2 contamination on various surfaces.
- The electrocardiogram fingertip showed a high positive rate (72.7%), highlighting it as a critical hygiene site.
- Bedrails exhibited the highest correlation with other contaminated surfaces, suggesting daily monitoring, while bathroom door handles also presented a high contamination risk.
Conclusions:
- The developed RNA extraction-free method offers a fast and efficient solution for on-site COVID-19 surface contamination monitoring.
- Identifying high-risk surfaces like ECG fingertip, bedrails, and door handles enables targeted disinfection strategies.
- This approach provides valuable insights for improving environmental hygiene and infection control in healthcare facilities during pandemics.
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