Implementing an adaptive, two-tiered SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance program on a university campus using passive...

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Public health surveillance
• Molecular diagnostics

Background:

• Building-level wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) is crucial for targeted infectious disease monitoring.
• Passive sampling offers a potentially efficient method for WBS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate passive sampling with cotton gauze for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in dormitory wastewater.
• To assess the utility of WBS for institution-level public health decision-making.

Main Methods:

• Developed a two-tiered, trigger-based WBS program on a university campus.
• Quantified SARS-CoV-2 (N1 and N2 targets) and pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) using RT-qPCR.
• Analyzed over 500 wastewater samples during two distinct surveillance periods.

Main Results:

• The tiered system successfully isolated individual SARS-CoV-2 cases during periods of low viral burden.
• During high transmission (Omicron variant), surveillance shifted to trend monitoring.
• Passive sampling detected nearly all clinical cases and identified a pre-symptomatic individual.
• SARS-CoV-2 spread on campus mirrored broader community trends.

Conclusions:

• Passive sampling is an effective tool for semi-quantitative WBS, tracking temporal trends.
• WBS can guide targeted public health decisions at an institutional level.
• This approach supports efficient resource use and rapid reporting in surveillance programs.