Abstract
Objective: To 1) characterize the decay curve of infective SARS-CoV-2 over time on the surface of cardboard packaging and plastic mailer packaging; 2) characterize the transferability over time of virus-inoculated cardboard packaging and plastic mailer packaging to skin. Methods: We inoculated samples of plastic and cardboard packaging with a titer of SARS-CoV-2 > 106 TCID50/ mL to evaluate the survivability and transferability to the skin (pig skin) over time. A cell culture-based infectivity assay (TCID50) was used to determine viral titers. Regression analysis was used to characterize decay curves. Results: The time that SARS-CoV-2 remained transferable to skin was reduced on both packaging substrates compared to the total time of survivability, though cardboard demonstrated a substantially larger reduction. Virus inoculated plastic substrates continued to transfer the virus to the skin after 7 hours of holding time and regression analysis predicts this transferability would remain detectable up to 9.5 hours of holding time. Inoculated cardboard substrates demonstrated detectable transfer at 15 minutes of holding time, but no viable virus could be detected on the skin after 30 minutes of holding time. Conclusions: The type of material used as a packaging substrate substantially modifies the potential for SARS-CoV-2 fomite transmission. The use of materials that limit fomite transmission from packaging should be considered among strategies to reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Future research should investigate the generalizability of these findings for other viral pathogens that potentially transmit via fomite.
Highlights
The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2, novel human coronavirus was erupted in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in December 2019 [1]
Regression analysis for cardboard (Figure 2) estimates the decay rate, indicating that virus inoculum is reduced to the limit of detection (LOD) by 31.8 hours
The survivability of SARS-CoV-2 on various types of surfaces remains an important factor in evaluating the potential risk of fomite transmission of the virus to potentially cause infection and the disease known as COVID-19
Summary
The SARS-CoV-2, novel human coronavirus was erupted in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in December 2019 [1]. Certain types of human coronaviruses produce respiratory illnesses Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) [2]. SARS-CoV-2 produces the respiratory illness known as COVID-19. Reported COVID-19 illnesses have ranged from mild to severe, including respiratory illness resulting in death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that surface disinfection is part of the exposure control strategy to limit the spread of COVID19. Contact transmission is an infection spread through direct contact with an infectious person (e.g., touching during a handshake) or with an article or surface that has become contaminated, referred to as fomite transmission [4]
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