Viable SARS-CoV-2 in the air of a hospital room with COVID-19 patients.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Because the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in aerosols but failure to isolate viable (infectious) virus are commonly reported, there is substantial controversy whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can be transmitted through aerosols. This conundrum occurs because common air samplers can inactivate virions through their harsh collection processes. We sought to resolve the question whether viable SARS-CoV-2 can occur in aerosols using VIVAS air samplers that operate on a gentle water vapor condensation principle.

Methods

Air samples collected in the hospital room of two coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients, one ready for discharge and the other newly admitted, were subjected to RT-qPCR and virus culture. The genomes of the SARS-C

SUBMITTER: Lednicky JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7493737 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature