Lessons learned: use of WGS in real-time investigation of suspected intrahospital SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been a continuing source of hospital-acquired infection and outbreaks. At Akershus University Hospital in Norway, traditional contact tracing has been combined with whole-genome sequencing (WGS) surveillance in real-time to investigate potential hospital outbreaks.

Aim

To describe the advantages and challenges encountered when using WGS as a real-time tool in hospital outbreak investigation and surveillance during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Methods

Routine contact tracing in the hospital was performed for all healthcare workers (HCWs) who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Viral RNA from all positive patient and HCW samples was sequenced in real-time using nanopore sequencing and the ARTIC Network

SUBMITTER: Berggreen H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9617632 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature