Genetic Load of SARS-CoV-2 in Aerosols Collected in Operating Theaters.
| Title: | Genetic Load of SARS-CoV-2 in Aerosols Collected in Operating Theaters. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Barberá-Riera M; Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain.; Porru S; Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain.; Barneo-Muñoz M; Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain.; Villasante Ferrer A; Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain.; Carrasco P; Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain.; Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain.; de Llanos R; Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain.; Llueca A; Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain.; Multidisciplinary Unit of Abdominal Pelvic Oncology Surgery (MUAPOS), University General Hospital of Castellon, Castellón, Spain.; Delgado-Saborit JM; Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain.; Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain.; Environmental Research Group, MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, United Kingdom. |
| Corporate Authors: | COVID-Lap Working Group |
| Source: | Applied and environmental microbiology [Appl Environ Microbiol] 2022 Oct 11; Vol. 88 (19), pp. e0129722. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Sep 14. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: American Society for Microbiology Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 7605801 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1098-5336 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00992240 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Appl Environ Microbiol Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: Washington, American Society for Microbiology. |
| MeSH Terms: | COVID-19*/prevention & control ; SARS-CoV-2*/genetics; Pandemics/prevention & control ; RNA, Viral/genetics ; Genetic Load ; Humans ; Operating Rooms ; Quartz ; Respiratory Aerosols and Droplets |
| Abstract: | After the outbreak of COVID-19, additional protocols have been established to prevent the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 from the patient to the health personnel and vice versa in health care settings. However, in the case of emergency surgeries, it is not always possible to ensure that the patient is not infected with SARS-CoV-2, assuming a potential source of transmission of the virus to health personnel. This work aimed to evaluate the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 and quantify the viral load in indoor air samples collected inside operating rooms, where emergency and scheduled operations take place. Samples were collected for 3 weeks inside two operating rooms for 24 h at 38 L/min in quartz filters. RNA was extracted from the filters and analyzed using RT-qPCR targeting SARS-CoV-2 genes E, N1 and N2 regions. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 11.3% of aerosol samples collected in operating rooms, despite with low concentrations (not detected at 13.5 cg/m3 and 10.5 cg/m3 in the scheduled and emergency operating rooms, respectively). Potential sources of airborne SARS-CoV-2 could be aerosolization of the virus during aerosol-generating procedures and in open surgery from patients that might have been recently infected with the virus, despite presenting a negative COVID-19 test. Another source could be related to health care workers unknowingly infected with the virus and exhaling SARS-CoV-2 virions into the air. These results highlight the importance of reinforcing preventive measures against COVID-19 in operating rooms, such as the correct use of protective equipment, screening programs for health care workers, and information campaigns. IMPORTANCE Operating rooms are critical environments in which asepsis must be ensured. The COVID-19 pandemic entailed the implementation of additional preventative measures in health care settings, including operating theaters. Although one of the measures is to operate only COVID-19 free patients, this measure cannot be always implemented, especially in emergency interventions. Therefore, a surveillance campaign was conducted during 3 weeks in two operating rooms to assess the level of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material detected in operating theaters with the aim to assess the risk of COVID-19 transmission during operating procedures. SARS-CoV-2 genetic material was detected in 11% of aerosol samples collected in operating rooms, despite with low concentrations. Plausible SARS-CoV-2 sources have been discussed, including patients and health care personnel infected with the virus. These results highlight the importance of reinforcing preventive measures against COVID-19 in operating rooms, such as the correct use of protective equipment, screening programs for health care workers and information campaigns. |
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| Grant Information: | MR/S019669/1 United Kingdom MRC_ Medical Research Council |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; aerosol; coronavirus; healthcare; operating theaters; virus |
| Substance Nomenclature: | 0 (RNA, Viral); 14808-60-7 (Quartz) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20220914 Date Completed: 20221013 Latest Revision: 20250530 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC9552596 |
| DOI: | 10.1128/aem.01297-22 |
| PMID: | 36102660 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't