Dataset Information

SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens are detected in continuous air samples from congregate settings.

ABSTRACT: Two years after the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, there is still a need for better ways to assess the risk of transmission in congregate spaces. We deployed active air samplers to monitor the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in real-world settings across communities in the Upper Midwestern states of Wisconsin and Minnesota. Over 29 weeks, we collected 527 air samples from 15 congregate settings and detected 106 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples, demonstrating SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in air collected from daily and weekly sampling intervals. We expanded the utility of air surveillance to test for 40 other respiratory pathogens. Surveillance data revealed differences in timing and location of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus detection in the community. In addition, we obtained SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences from air samples to identify variant lineages. Collectively, this shows air surveillance is a scalable, cost-effective, and high throughput alternative to individual testing for detecting respiratory pathogens in congregate settings.

SUBMITTER: Ramuta MD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8978944 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens are detected in continuous air samples from congregate settings.

Ramuta Mitchell D MD Newman Christina M CM Brakefield Savannah F SF Stauss Miranda R MR Wiseman Roger W RW Kita-Yarbro Amanda A O'Connor Eli J EJ Dahal Neeti N Lim Ailam A Poulsen Keith P KP Safdar Nasia N Marx John A JA Accola Molly A MA Rehrauer William M WM Zimmer Julia A JA Khubbar Manjeet M Beversdorf Lucas J LJ Boehm Emma C EC Castañeda David D Rushford Clayton C Gregory Devon A DA Yao Joseph D JD Bhattacharyya Sanjib S Johnson Marc C MC Aliota Matthew T MT Friedrich Thomas C TC O'Connor David H DH O'Connor Shelby L SL

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences 20220330

Two years after the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, there is still a need for better ways to assess the risk of transmission in congregate spaces. We deployed active air samplers to monitor the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in real-world settings across communities in the Upper Midwestern states of Wisconsin and Minnesota. Over 29 weeks, we collected 527 air samples from 15 congregate settings and detected 106 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples, demonstrating SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in air collected from daily an ...[more]

PMID: 35378751

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Project description:ImportanceControversy remains regarding the transmission routes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).ObjectiveTo review current evidence on air contamination with SARS-CoV-2 in hospital settings and the factors associated with contamination, including viral load and particle size.Evidence reviewThe MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science databases were systematically queried for original English-language articles detailing SARS-CoV-2 air contamination in hospital settings between January 1 and October 27, 2020. This study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. The positivity rate of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA and culture were described and compared according to the setting, clinical context, air ventilation system, and distance from patients. The SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in copies per meter cubed of air were pooled, and their distribution was described by hospital areas. Particle sizes and SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in copies or median tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50) per meter cubed were analyzed after categorization as less than 1 μm, from 1 to 4 μm, and greater than 4 μm.FindingsAmong 2284 records identified, 24 cross-sectional observational studies were included in the review. Overall, 82 of 471 air samples (17.4%) from close patient environments were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, with a significantly higher positivity rate in intensive care unit settings (intensive care unit, 27 of 107 [25.2%] vs non-intensive care unit, 39 of 364 [10.7%]; P < .001). There was no difference according to the distance from patients (≤1 m, 3 of 118 [2.5%] vs >1-5 m, 13 of 236 [5.5%]; P = .22). The positivity rate was 5 of 21 air samples (23.8%) in toilets, 20 of 242 (8.3%) in clinical areas, 15 of 122 (12.3%) in staff areas, and 14 of 42 (33.3%) in public areas. A total of 81 viral cultures were performed across 5 studies, and 7 (8.6%) from 2 studies were positive, all from close patient environments. The median (interquartile range) SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations varied from 1.0 × 103 copies/m3 (0.4 × 103 to 3.1 × 103 copies/m3) in clinical areas to 9.7 × 103 copies/m3 (5.1 × 103 to 14.3 × 103 copies/m3) in the air of toilets or bathrooms. Protective equipment removal and patient rooms had high concentrations per titer of SARS-CoV-2 (varying from 0.9 × 103 to 40 × 103 copies/m3 and 3.8 × 103 to 7.2 × 103 TCID50/m3), with aerosol size distributions that showed peaks in the region of particle size less than 1 μm; staff offices had peaks in the region of particle size greater than 4 μm.Conclusions and relevanceIn this systematic review, the air close to and distant from patients with coronavirus disease 2019 was frequently contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 RNA; however, few of these samples contained viable viruses. High viral loads found in toilets and bathrooms, staff areas, and public hallways suggest that these areas should be carefully considered.

Project description:BackgroundOur understanding of the cocirculation of infrequently targeted respiratory pathogens and their contribution to symptoms during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is currently limited. This research aims at (1) understanding the epidemiology of respiratory pathogens since the start of the pandemic, (2) assessing the contribution of non-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)/influenza/respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) respiratory pathogens to symptoms, and (3) evaluating coinfection rates in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients, both vaccinated and unvaccinated.MethodsRetrospective analysis of respiratory pathogens identified by the Johns Hopkins Diagnostic Laboratory between December 2019 and October 2021 was performed. In addition, we assessed the contribution of respiratory pathogens other than SARS-CoV-2 to symptomatic disease by retesting 2 cohorts of specimens that were (1) collected from symptomatic patients and (2) received limited respiratory pathogen testing. The first cohort was patients who tested negative by the standard-of-care SARS-CoV-2/influenza/RSV testing. The second was a cohort of SARS-CoV-2-positive, symptomatic, fully COVID-19 immunized and unimmunized patients.ResultsBetween December 2019 and October 2021, a total of 11 806, 62 829, and 579 666 specimens were tested for an extended respiratory panel, influenza/RSV with or without SARS-CoV-2 panel, or SARS-CoV-2, respectively. Positivity rates of different targets differed between different months and were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The SARS-CoV-2-negative cohort had 8.5% positivity for other respiratory pathogens that included primarily enterovirus/rhinovirus (5.8%). In the SARS-CoV-2-positive cohort, no other respiratory pathogens were detected.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic impacted the circulation of certain respiratory pathogens. Other respiratory viral pathogens were associated with symptomatic infections; however, coinfections with SARS-CoV-2 were highly uncommon.

Dataset Information

SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens are detected in continuous air samples from congregate settings.

Publications

SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens are detected in continuous air samples from congregate settings.

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