Scientific Reports (May 2022)

SARS-CoV-2 RNA in exhaled air of hospitalized COVID-19 patients

  • Lisa Kurver,
  • Corné H. van den Kieboom,
  • Kjerstin Lanke,
  • Dimitri A. Diavatopoulos,
  • Gijs J. Overheul,
  • Mihai G. Netea,
  • Jaap ten Oever,
  • Reinout van Crevel,
  • Karin Mulders-Manders,
  • Frank L. van de Veerdonk,
  • Heiman Wertheim,
  • Jeroen Schouten,
  • Janette Rahamat-Langendoen,
  • Ronald P. van Rij,
  • Teun Bousema,
  • Arjan van Laarhoven,
  • Marien I. de Jonge

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13008-4
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 6

Abstract

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Abstract Knowledge about contagiousness is key to accurate management of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Epidemiological studies suggest that in addition to transmission through droplets, aerogenic SARS-CoV-2 transmission contributes to the spread of infection. However, the presence of virus in exhaled air has not yet been sufficiently demonstrated. In pandemic situations low tech disposable and user-friendly bedside devices are required, while commercially available samplers are unsuitable for application in patients with respiratory distress. We included 49 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and used a disposable modular breath sampler to measure SARS-CoV-2 RNA load in exhaled air samples and compared these to SARS-CoV-2 RNA load of combined nasopharyngeal throat swabs and saliva. Exhaled air sampling using the modular breath sampler has proven feasible in a clinical COVID-19 setting and demonstrated viral detection in 25% of the patients.