Dataset Information

Implementing wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 on a university campus: Lessons learned.

ABSTRACT: Wastewater surveillance, also known as wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), has been successfully used to detect SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses in sewage in many locations in the United States and globally. This includes implementation of the surveillance on college and university campuses. A two-phase study was conducted during the 2020-2021 academic year to test the feasibility of a WBE system on campus and to supplement the clinical COVID-19 testing performed for the student, staff, and faculty body. The primary objective during the Fall 2020 semester was to monitor a large portion of the on-campus population and to obtain an understanding of the spreading of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The Spring 2021 objective was focused on selected residence halls and groups of residents on campus, as this was more efficient and relevant for an effective follow-up response. Logistical problems and planning oversights initially occurred but were corrected with improved communication and experience. Many lessons were learned, including effective mapping, site planning, communication, personnel organization, and equipment management, and obtained along the way, thereby paving an opportune guide for future planning efforts. PRACTITIONER POINTS: WBE was successful in the detection of many SARS-CoV-2 variants incl. Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Lambda, Mu, and Omicron. Careful planning and contingencies were essential for a successful implementation of a SARS-CoV-2 monitoring program. A surveillance program may be important for detection and monitoring of other public health relevant targets in wastewater incl. bacteria, viruses, fungi and viruses. Diverse lessons were learned incl. effective mapping, site planning, communication, personnel organization, and equipment management, thereby providing a guide for future planning efforts.

SUBMITTER: Wartell BA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9827968 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Implementing wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 on a university campus: Lessons learned.

Wartell Brian A BA Proano Camila C Bakalian Lena L Kaya Devrim D Croft Kristen K McCreary Michael M Lichtenstein Naomi N Miske Victoria V Arcellana Patricia P Boyer Jessica J Benschoten Isabelle Van IV Anderson Marya M Crabb Andrea A Gilson Susan S Gourley Anthony A Wheeler Tim T Trest Brian B Bowman Glynnis G Kjellerup Birthe V BV

Water environment research : a research publication of the Water Environment Federation 20221101 11

Wastewater surveillance, also known as wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), has been successfully used to detect SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses in sewage in many locations in the United States and globally. This includes implementation of the surveillance on college and university campuses. A two-phase study was conducted during the 2020-2021 academic year to test the feasibility of a WBE system on campus and to supplement the clinical COVID-19 testing performed for the student, staff, and faculty ...[more]

PMID: 36372781

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Project description:Targeted wastewater surveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been proposed by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Wastewater Surveillance System as a complementary approach to clinical surveillance to detect the presence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) at high-density facilities and institutions such as university campuses, nursing homes, and correctional facilities. In this study we evaluated the efficacy of targeted wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA together with individual-level testing for outbreak mitigation on a university campus during Fall 2020 semester. Wastewater samples (n = 117) were collected weekly from manholes or sewer cleanouts that receive wastewater inputs from dormitories, community-use buildings, and a COVID-19 isolation dormitory. Quantitative RT-PCR N1 and N2 assays were used to measure SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid genes in wastewater. Due to varying human waste input in different buildings, pepper mild mottle virus (PMMV) RNA was also measured in all samples and used to normalize SARS-CoV-2 N1 and N2 RNA wastewater concentrations. In this study, temporal trends of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater samples mirrored trends in COVID-19 cases detected on campus. Normalizing SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations using human fecal indicator, PMMV enhanced the correlation between N1 and N2 gene abundances in wastewater with COVID-19 cases. N1 and N2 genes were significant predictors of COVID-19 cases in dormitories, and the N2 gene was significantly correlated with the number of detected COVID-19 cases in dormitories. By implementing several public health surveillance programs include targeted wastewater surveillance, individual-level testing, contact tracing, and quarantine/isolation facilities, university health administrators could act decisively during an outbreak on campus, resulting in rapid decline of newly detected COVID-19 cases. Wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 is a proactive outbreak monitoring tool for university campuses seeking to continue higher education practices in person during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dataset Information

Implementing wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 on a university campus: Lessons learned.

Publications

Implementing wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 on a university campus: Lessons learned.

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