@article{d04c0f3cc4a34b2c9ddbb3b3cf002427,
title = "Detection of air and surface contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in hospital rooms of infected patients",
abstract = "Understanding the particle size distribution in the air and patterns of environmental contamination of SARS-CoV-2 is essential for infection prevention policies. Here we screen surface and air samples from hospital rooms of COVID-19 patients for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Environmental sampling is conducted in three airborne infection isolation rooms (AIIRs) in the ICU and 27 AIIRs in the general ward. 245 surface samples are collected. 56.7% of rooms have at least one environmental surface contaminated. High touch surface contamination is shown in ten (66.7%) out of 15 patients in the first week of illness, and three (20%) beyond the first week of illness (p = 0.01, χ2 test). Air sampling is performed in three of the 27 AIIRs in the general ward, and detects SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive particles of sizes >4 µm and 1–4 µm in two rooms, despite these rooms having 12 air changes per hour. This warrants further study of the airborne transmission potential of SARS-CoV-2.",
author = "{for the Singapore 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak Research Team} and Chia, {Po Ying} and Coleman, {Kristen Kelli} and Tan, {Yian Kim} and Ong, {Sean Wei Xiang} and Marcus Gum and Lau, {Sok Kiang} and Lim, {Xiao Fang} and Lim, {Ai Sim} and Stephanie Sutjipto and Lee, {Pei Hua} and Son, {Than The} and Young, {Barnaby Edward} and Milton, {Donald K.} and Gray, {Gregory C.} and Stephan Schuster and Timothy Barkham and De, {Partha Pratim} and Shawn Vasoo and Monica Chan and Ang, {Brenda Sze Peng} and Tan, {Boon Huan} and Leo, {Yee Sin} and Ng, {Oon Tek} and Wong, {Michelle Su Yen} and Kalisvar Marimuthu and Lye, {David Chien} and Lim, {Poh Lian} and Lee, {Cheng Chuan} and Ling, {Li Min} and Lawrence Lee and Lee, {Tau Hong} and Wong, {Chen Seong} and Sapna Sadarangani and Lin, {Ray Junhao} and Ng, {Deborah Hee Ling} and Mucheli Sadasiv and Yeo, {Tsin Wen} and Choy, {Chiaw Yee} and Tan, {Glorijoy Shi En} and Frederico Dimatatac and Santos, {Isais Florante} and Go, {Chi Jong} and Chan, {Yu Kit} and Tay, {Jun Yang} and Tan, {Jackie Yu Ling} and Nihar Pandit and Ho, {Benjamin Choon Heng} and Shehara Mendis and Chen, {Yuan Yi Constance} and Abdad, {Mohammad Yazid}",
note = "Funding Information: We thank Dr. Bill Lindsley (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH) for loaning us aerosol samplers and guiding us in their use; Dr. Raquel Binder and Emily Robie from the Duke One Health team for quickly providing us equipment for use in this study; Dr Hsu Li Yang (Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore) for facilitating the air sampling; and Dr Ding Ying (National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore) for helping with project coordination. No compensation was received for their roles in the study. We further thank the colleagues in DSO National Laboratories in the environmental detection team and clinical diagnostics team for BSL-3 sample processing and analysis as well as the logistics and repository team for transport of biohazard material, inventory, and safekeeping of received items. This study is funded by NMRC Seed Funding Program (TR19NMR119SD), NMRC COVID-19 Research Fund (COVID19RF-001, COVID19RF-002), NHG-NCID COVID-19 Centre Grant (COVID19 CG0002), and internal funds from DSO National Laboratories. Ng O.T. is supported by NMRC Clinician Scientist Award (MOH-000276). K. Marimuthu is supported by NMRC CS-IRG (CIRG18Nov-0034). Chia P.Y. is supported by NMRC Research Training Fellowship (NMRC/Fellowship/0056/2018). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020, The Author(s).",
year = "2020",
month = dec,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1038/s41467-020-16670-2",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "11",
journal = "Nature communications",
issn = "2041-1723",
publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",
number = "1",
}