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A new study in PLOS One has reported the low likelihood that SARS-CoV-2 contamination on hospital surfaces is infectious. The study was conducted at Davis Medical Center at UC (University of California). In April 2020, an interdisciplinary team investigated whether there was viral contamination of frequently used surfaces in intensive care units and medical facility staff meeting areas. At that time, the role of passive vectors (surfaces) in the spread of the disease was much debated. They collected several samples during the first (April 2020) and second (August 2020) waves of Covid-19 hospital surfaces and HVAC filters.
The researchers analyzed the surface swabs for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and infectivity. Despite a significant increase in the number of hospitalized patients with Covid-19 during the second wave, the team found that only 2% of swabs were positive in August, compared to 11% of samples collected in April.
The study demonstrated that through genome sequencing, SARS-CoV-2 could be detected even from samples that were otherwise negative (undetectable) by commonly used PCR tests. By obtaining precise viral genomic sequences, researchers could track the source and understand how an infection travels. The results showed that SARS-CoV-2 RNA taken from a surface, although containing almost intact genomic sequence, was not infectious. This finding supports the hypothesis that contaminated surfaces may not be a major means of spreading Covid-19 disease.
Source: University of California, Davis
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