Breath-, air- and surface-borne SARS-CoV-2 in hospitals

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought an unprecedented crisis to the global health sector. When discharging patients in accordance with throat or nasal swab protocols using RT-PCR, potential risk of reintroducing infection source humans and environment must be resolved. Here, 14 including 10 subjects were recruited; exhaled breath condensate (EBC), air samples surface swabs collected analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) four hospitals applied natural ventilation disinfection practices Wuhan. Here we discovered that 22.2% (n = 9), who ready hospital discharge based on current guidelines, had their (~105 RNA copies/m3). Although fewer (3.1%, n 318) tested positive, medical equipment such as face shield frequently contacted/used by healthcare workers work shift floor contaminated (3–8 viruses/cm2). Three 44) those a robot-assisted sampler detected positive digital PCR concentration level 9–219 viruses/m3. RT-PCR diagnosis specimens failure rate more than 22% safely otherwise still exhaling estimated ~1400 copies per minute into air. Direct contact might not represent major transmission route, lower sample (6.8%) was likely due (1.6–3.3 m/s) regular practices. While there is critical need strengthening standards preventing re-emergence spread, use supplement specimen could further guard ensure safety public minimize risk.