Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 environmental monitoring can track the rate of viral contamination and can be used to establish preventive measures. This study aimed to detect by RT-PCR the presence of SARS-CoV-2 from inert surface samples in public health settings with a literature review about surface contamination and its burden on spread virus. Samples were collected from health settings in Curitiba, Brazil, between July and December 2020. A literature review was conducted using PRISMA. A total of 711 environmental surface samples were collected from outpatient areas, dental units, doctors’ offices, COVID-19 evaluation areas, and hospital units, of which 35 (4.9%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The frequency of environmental contamination was higher in primary care units than in hospital settings. The virus was detected on doctors’ personal items. Remarkably, the previously disinfected dental chair samples tested positive. These findings agree with those of other studies in which SARS-CoV-2 was found on inanimate surfaces. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on surfaces in public health settings, including those not meant to treat COVID-19, indicates widespread environmental contamination. Therefore, the intensification of disinfection measures for external hospital areas may be important for controlling community COVID-19 dissemination.
Highlights
On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) drew the world’s attention to an outbreak of a new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
This study aimed to investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on inert surfaces in different settings of the public health system in Curitiba, Brazil to evaluate possible sources of environmental contamination
The molecular analysis of viral RNA from environmental surfaces in public health settings in our study showed that the virus can be detected on routine equipment and on physicians’ personal items which unknowingly become carriers of SARS-CoV-2
Summary
On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) drew the world’s attention to an outbreak of a new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus spreads through contaminated droplets, contamination of hands by direct contact, or indirectly via inanimate surfaces [3,4]. The most significant concern regarding SARS-CoV-2 is its transmission through aerosols and direct contact [5], which is associated with environmental conditions and human behavior [6,7]. Several studies reported a correlation between the number of daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 and the environmental viability of the virus [8,9]. The spread control of SARSCoV-2 is a global challenge, and the evidence of its circulation on the inanimate surfaces are important to reinforce public health measures to limit transmission of the virus [5,10,11,12,13]
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