Detection of Airborne Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Coronavirus and Environmental Contamination in SARS Outbreak Units | Zendy

Timothy F. Booth | Zendy; Bill Kournikakis | Zendy; Nathalie Bastien | Zendy; Jim Ho | Zendy; Darwyn Kobasa | Zendy; L L Stadnyk | Zendy; Yan Li | Zendy; Mel Spence | Zendy; Shirley Paton | Zendy; Bonnie Henry | Zendy; Barbara Mederski | Zendy; Diane White | Zendy; Donald E. Low | Zendy; Allison McGeer | Zendy; Andrew E. Simor | Zendy; Mary Vearncombe | Zendy; James M. Downey | Zendy; Frances Jamieson | Zendy; Patrick Tang | Zendy; Frank Plummer | Zendy

Open Access

Detection of Airborne Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Coronavirus and Environmental Contamination in SARS Outbreak Units

Author(s) -

Timothy F. Booth,

Bill Kournikakis,

Nathalie Bastien,

Jim Ho,

Darwyn Kobasa,

L L Stadnyk,

Yan Li,

Mel Spence,

Shirley Paton,

Bonnie Henry,

Barbara Mederski,

Diane White,

Donald E. Low,

Allison McGeer,

Andrew E. Simor,

Mary Vearncombe,

James M. Downey,

Frances Jamieson,

Patrick Tang,

Frank Plummer

Publication year - 2005

Publication title -

the journal of infectious diseases

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 2.69

H-Index - 252

eISSN - 1537-6613

pISSN - 0022-1899

DOI - 10.1086/429634

Subject(s) - outbreak , covid-19 , coronavirus , contamination , severe acute respiratory syndrome , sars virus , virology , betacoronavirus , severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus , medicine , biology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , pathology , ecology , disease

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is characterized by a risk of nosocomial transmission; however, the risk of airborne transmission of SARS is unknown. During the Toronto outbreaks of SARS, we investigated environmental contamination in SARS units, by employing novel air sampling and conventional surface swabbing. Two polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive air samples were obtained from a room occupied by a patient with SARS, indicating the presence of the virus in the air of the room. In addition, several PCR-positive swab samples were recovered from frequently touched surfaces in rooms occupied by patients with SARS (a bed table and a television remote control) and in a nurses' station used by staff (a medication refrigerator door). These data provide the first experimental confirmation of viral aerosol generation by a patient with SARS, indicating the possibility of airborne droplet transmission, which emphasizes the need for adequate respiratory protection, as well as for strict surface hygiene practices.

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