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Updated: Nov 28, 2025
Swabbing the Urban Environment - A Pipeline for Sampling and Detection of SARS-CoV-2 From Environmental Reservoirs
Published on: April 9, 2021
Environmental contamination related to SARS-CoV-2 in ICU patients
Alexandra Lomont1,2,3, Marouane Boubaya4, Warda Khamis2,5
1Clinical Microbiology Dept and Infection Control Unit, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Seine-Saint-Denis, Bobigny, France.
Background:
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is a primary global concern, and data are lacking concerning risk of novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) environmental contamination.
Objective:
To identify risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 environmental contamination in COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).
Methods:
A prospective single centre 1-day study was carried out in an ICU. Four surfaces (the ventilator control screen, the control buttons of the syringe pump, the bed rails and the computer table located >1 m away from the patient) were systematically swabbed at least 8 h after any cleaning process. We analysed clinical, microbiological and radiological data to identify risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 environmental contamination.
Results:
40% of ICU patients were found to contaminate their environment. No particular trend emerged regarding the type of surface contaminated. Modality of oxygen support (high-flow nasal cannula oxygenation, invasive mechanical ventilation, standard oxygen mask) was not associated with the risk of environmental contamination. Univariate analysis showed that lymphopenia <0.7×109·L-1 was associated with environmental contamination.
Conclusion:
Despite small sample size, our study generated surprising results. Modality of oxygen support is not associated with risk of environmental contamination. Further studies are needed.
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