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SARS-CoV-2 Surface Swabs in Locations With Public Access-Potential for Improved Source Control.
Jacob P S Nielsen1,2, Johannes R Madsen1,2,3, Kamille Fogh1,2,4
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Open Forum Infectious Diseases
|September 16, 2022
Summary
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was detected on nearly 25% of surfaces in public areas, particularly supermarkets, during a February 2022 study. This research highlights potential environmental transmission routes for the virus.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Public health
- Infectious disease epidemiology
Background:
- The environmental persistence and surface contamination of SARS-CoV-2 are critical factors in understanding transmission dynamics.
- Limited data exists on the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces in various public settings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on frequently touched surfaces in public locations.
- To identify specific public environments with higher surface contamination rates.
Main Methods:
- Surface swab samples were collected from diverse public locations in February 2022.
- Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA.
- Viability of detected SARS-CoV-2 was not assessed in this study.
Main Results:
- SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected on approximately 25% of all sampled surfaces.
- Supermarkets exhibited the highest prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 surface contamination compared to other public locations.
- The study did not assess the infectivity or viability of the detected virus.
Conclusions:
- Public surfaces, especially in supermarkets, frequently harbor SARS-CoV-2 RNA, indicating a potential route for indirect transmission.
- Findings underscore the importance of routine surface disinfection in high-traffic public areas to mitigate virus spread.
- Further research is needed to correlate surface RNA detection with actual transmission events.
