Aerosol and Surface Distribution of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Hospital Wards, Wuhan, China, 2020

Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Jul;26(7):1583-1591. doi: 10.3201/eid2607.200885. Epub 2020 Jun 21.

Abstract

To determine distribution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in hospital wards in Wuhan, China, we tested air and surface samples. Contamination was greater in intensive care units than general wards. Virus was widely distributed on floors, computer mice, trash cans, and sickbed handrails and was detected in air ≈4 m from patients.

Keywords: 2019 novel coronavirus disease; COVID-19; China; SARS-CoV-2; Wuhan; aerosol; coronavirus disease; exposure risk; hospital-associated infection; medical staff protection; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viruses; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aerosols
  • Air Microbiology*
  • Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / transmission*
  • Hospitals
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / transmission*
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Aerosols