Dataset Information

SARS-CoV-2 in Exhaled Aerosol Particles from COVID-19 Cases and Its Association to Household Transmission.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission via exhaled aerosol particles has been considered an important route for the spread of infection, especially during super-spreading events involving loud talking or singing. However, no study has previously linked measurements of viral aerosol emissions to transmission rates.

Methods

During February-March 2021, COVID-19 cases that were close to symptom onset were visited with a mobile laboratory for collection of exhaled aerosol particles during breathing, talking, and singing, respectively, and of nasopharyngeal and saliva samples. Aerosol samples were collected using a BioSpot-VIVAS and a NIOSH bc-251 2-stage cyclone, and all samples were analyzed by RT-qPCR for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA detection. We compared transmission rates between households with aerosol-positive and aerosol-negative index cases.

Results

SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in at least 1 aerosol sample from 19 of 38 (50%) included cases. The odds ratio (OR) of finding positive aerosol samples decreased with each day from symptom onset (OR 0.55, 95 confidence interval [CI] .30-1.0, P = .049). The highest number of positive aerosol samples were from singing, 16 (42%), followed by talking, 11 (30%), and the least from breathing, 3 (8%). Index cases were identified for 13 households with 31 exposed contacts. Higher transmission rates were observed in households with aerosol-positive index cases, 10/16 infected (63%), compared to households with aerosol-negative index cases, 4/15 infected (27%) (χ2 test, P = .045).

Conclusions

COVID-19 cases were more likely to exhale SARS-CoV-2-containing aerosol particles close to symptom onset and during singing or talking as compared to breathing. This study supports that individuals with SARS-CoV-2 in exhaled aerosols are more likely to transmit COVID-19.

SUBMITTER: Alsved M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8992237 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

SARS-CoV-2 in Exhaled Aerosol Particles from COVID-19 Cases and Its Association to Household Transmission.

Alsved Malin M Nygren David D Thuresson Sara S Medstrand Patrik P Fraenkel Carl Johan CJ Löndahl Jakob J

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America 20220801 1

<h4>Background</h4>Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission via exhaled aerosol particles has been considered an important route for the spread of infection, especially during super-spreading events involving loud talking or singing. However, no study has previously linked measurements of viral aerosol emissions to transmission rates.<h4>Methods</h4>During February-March 2021, COVID-19 cases that were close to symptom onset were visited with a mobile laboratory for collection of exhaled ...[more]

PMID: 35271734

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Project description:ImportanceAs a result of low numbers of pediatric cases early in the COVID-19 pandemic, pediatric household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 remains an understudied topic.ObjectiveTo determine whether there are differences in the odds of household transmission by younger children compared with older children.Design, setting, and participantsThis population-based cohort study took place between June 1 and December 31, 2020, in Ontario, Canada. Private households in which the index case individual of laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection was younger than 18 years were included. Individuals were excluded if they resided in apartments missing suite information, in households with multiple index cases, or in households where the age of the index case individual was missing.ExposuresAge group of pediatric index cases categorized as 0 to 3, 4 to 8, 9 to 13, and 14 to 17 years.Main outcomes and measuresHousehold transmission, defined as households where at least 1 secondary case occurred 1 to 14 days after the pediatric index case.ResultsA total of 6280 households had pediatric index cases, and 1717 households (27.3%) experienced secondary transmission. The mean (SD) age of pediatric index case individuals was 10.7 (5.1) years and 2863 (45.6%) were female individuals. Children aged 0 to 3 years had the highest odds of transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to household contacts compared with children aged 14 to 17 years (odds ratio, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.17-1.75). This association was similarly observed in sensitivity analyses defining secondary cases as 2 to 14 days or 4 to 14 days after the index case and stratified analyses by presence of symptoms, association with a school/childcare outbreak, or school/childcare reopening. Children aged 4 to 8 years and 9 to 13 years also had increased odds of transmission (aged 4-8 years: odds ratio, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.18-1.67; aged 9-13 years: odds ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.97-1.32).Conclusions and relevanceThis study suggests that younger children may be more likely to transmit SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with older children, and the highest odds of transmission was observed for children aged 0 to 3 years. Differential infectivity of pediatric age groups has implications for infection prevention within households, as well as schools/childcare, to minimize risk of household secondary transmission. Additional population-based studies are required to establish the risk of transmission by younger pediatric index cases.

Dataset Information

SARS-CoV-2 in Exhaled Aerosol Particles from COVID-19 Cases and Its Association to Household Transmission.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

SARS-CoV-2 in Exhaled Aerosol Particles from COVID-19 Cases and Its Association to Household Transmission.

Similar Datasets

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