Detection of SARS-CoV-2 contamination in the operating room and birthing room setting: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The exposure risks to front-line health care workers caring for patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection undergoing surgery or obstetric delivery are unclear, and an understanding of sample types that may harbour virus is important for evaluating risk. We sought to determine whether SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA from patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection undergoing surgery or obstetric delivery was present in the peritoneal cavity of male and female patients, in the female reproductive tract, in the environment of the surgery or delivery suite (surgical instruments or equipment used, air or floors), and inside the masks of the attending health care workers.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study from November 2020 to May 2021 at 2 tertiary academic Toronto hospitals, during u

SUBMITTER: Lee PE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9259417 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr-Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature