Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RNA contamination of inanimate surfaces and virus viability in a health care emergency unit.
M Colaneri, E Seminari, S Novati, E Asperges, S Biscarini, A Piralla, E Percivalle, I Cassaniti, F Baldanti, R Bruno, M U Mondelli, COVID19 IRCCS San Matteo Pavia Task Force
Author Information
M Colaneri: Division of Infectious Diseases I, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
E Seminari: Division of Infectious Diseases I, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
S Novati: Division of Infectious Diseases I, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
E Asperges: Division of Infectious Diseases I, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
S Biscarini: Division of Infectious Diseases I, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
A Piralla: Molecular Virology Unit, Microbiology and Virology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
E Percivalle: Molecular Virology Unit, Microbiology and Virology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
I Cassaniti: Molecular Virology Unit, Microbiology and Virology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
F Baldanti: Molecular Virology Unit, Microbiology and Virology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic, and Paediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
R Bruno: Division of Infectious Diseases I, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy; Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic, and Paediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
M U Mondelli: Division of Infectious Diseases II and Immunology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Pavia, Italy. Electronic address: mario.mondelli@unipv.it.
OBJECTIVES: To detect possible severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA contamination of inanimate surfaces in areas at high risk of aerosol formation by patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: Sampling was performed in the emergency unit and the sub-intensive care ward. SARS-CoV-2RNA was extracted from swabbed surfaces and objects and subjected to real-time RT-PCR targeting RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and E genes. Virus isolation from positive samples was attempted in vitro on Vero E6 cells. RESULTS: Twenty-six samples were collected and only two were positive for low-level SARS-CoV-2RNA, both collected on the external surface of continuous positive airway pressure helmets. All transport media were inoculated onto susceptible cells, but none induced a cytopathic effect on day 7 of culture. CONCLUSIONS: Even though daily contact with inanimate surfaces and patient fomites in contaminated areas may be a medium of infection, our data obtained in real-life conditions suggest that it might be less extensive than hitherto recognized.
