RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Evidence of air and surface contamination with SARS-CoV-2 in a major hospital in Portugal
A1 Gomes da Silva, Priscilla
A1 Gonçalves, José
A1 Brito Lopes, Ariana Isabel
A1 Esteves, Nury Alves
A1 Bamba, Gustavo Emanuel Enes
A1 Nascimento, Maria São José
A1 Branco, Pedro T. B. S.
A1 Soares, Ruben R. G.
A1 Sousa, Sofia I. V.
A1 Mesquita, João
K1 SARS-CoV-2
K1 COVID-19
K1 Environmental pollution
K1 Contaminación ambiental
K1 Air samples
K1 Surface samples
K1 Air quality
K1 Aire - Calidad
K1 Air - Pollution
K1 Aire - Contaminación
K1 Medical care - Portugal
K1 Public Health
K1 3308 Ingeniería y Tecnología del Medio Ambiente
K1 2509.02 Contaminación Atmosférica
K1 3212 Salud Publica
AB As the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic hit Portugal, it forced the country to reintroduce lockdown measures due to hospitals reaching their full capacities. Under these circumstances, environmental contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in different areas of one of Portugal’s major Hospitals was assessed between 21 January and 11 February 2021. Air samples (n = 44) were collected from eleven different areas of the Hospital (four COVID-19 and seven non-COVID-19 areas) using Coriolis® μ and Coriolis® Compact cyclone air sampling devices. Surface sampling was also performed (n = 17) on four areas (one COVID-19 and three non-COVID-19 areas). RNA extraction followed by a one-step RT-qPCR adapted for quantitative purposes were performed. Of the 44 air samples, two were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA (6575 copies/m3 and 6662.5 copies/m3, respectively). Of the 17 surface samples, three were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA (200.6 copies/cm2, 179.2 copies/cm2, and 201.7 copies/cm2, respectively). SARS-CoV-2 environmental contamination was found both in air and on surfaces in both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 areas. Moreover, our results suggest that longer collection sessions are needed to detect point contaminations. This reinforces the need to remain cautious at all times, not only when in close contact with infected individuals. Hand hygiene and other standard transmission-prevention guidelines should be continuously followed to avoid nosocomial COVID-19.
PB MDPI
SN 1660-4601
YR 2022
FD 2022
LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/62807
UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/62807
LA eng
NO International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022, Vol. 19, Nº. 1, 525
NO Producción Científica
DS UVaDOC
RD 28-nov-2024