Viable SARS-CoV-2 in the air of a hospital room with COVID-19 patients

John A. Lednicky; Michael Lauzard; Z. Hugh Fan; Antarpreet Jutla; Trevor B. Tilly; Mayank Gangwar; Moiz Usmani; Sripriya Nannu Shankar; Karim Mohamed; Arantza Eiguren-Fernandez; Caroline J. Stephenson; Md. Mahbubul Alam; Maha A. Elbadry; Julia C. Loeb; Kuttichantran Subramaniam; Thomas B. Waltzek; Kartikeya Cherabuddi; J. Glenn Morris, Jr.; Chang-Yu Wu

International Journal of Infectious Diseases (Nov 2020)

Viable SARS-CoV-2 in the air of a hospital room with COVID-19 patients

John A. Lednicky,
Michael Lauzard,
Z. Hugh Fan,
Antarpreet Jutla,
Trevor B. Tilly,
Mayank Gangwar,
Moiz Usmani,
Sripriya Nannu Shankar,
Karim Mohamed,
Arantza Eiguren-Fernandez,
Caroline J. Stephenson,
Md. Mahbubul Alam,
Maha A. Elbadry,
Julia C. Loeb,
Kuttichantran Subramaniam,
Thomas B. Waltzek,
Kartikeya Cherabuddi,
J. Glenn Morris, Jr.,
Chang-Yu Wu

Affiliations

John A. Lednicky: Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, USA; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, USA; Corresponding author at: Dept. of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida – Gainesville, Box 100188, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0188, USA.
Michael Lauzard: Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, USA
Z. Hugh Fan: Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Florida, USA; J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, USA
Antarpreet Jutla: Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering, University of Florida, USA
Trevor B. Tilly: Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering, University of Florida, USA
Mayank Gangwar: Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering, University of Florida, USA
Moiz Usmani: Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering, University of Florida, USA
Sripriya Nannu Shankar: Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering, University of Florida, USA
Karim Mohamed: J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, USA
Arantza Eiguren-Fernandez: Aerosol Dynamics Inc., Berkeley, CA, USA
Caroline J. Stephenson: Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, USA; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, USA
Md. Mahbubul Alam: Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, USA; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, USA
Maha A. Elbadry: Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, USA; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, USA
Julia C. Loeb: Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, USA; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, USA
Kuttichantran Subramaniam: Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, USA; Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, USA
Thomas B. Waltzek: Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, USA; Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, USA
Kartikeya Cherabuddi: Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, USA
J. Glenn Morris, Jr.: Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, USA
Chang-Yu Wu: Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering, University of Florida, USA

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 100
pp. 476 – 482

Abstract

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Objectives: Because the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in aerosols but failure to isolate viable (infectious) virus are commonly reported, there is substantial controversy whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can be transmitted through aerosols. This conundrum occurs because common air samplers can inactivate virions through their harsh collection processes. We sought to resolve the question whether viable SARS-CoV-2 can occur in aerosols using VIVAS air samplers that operate on a gentle water vapor condensation principle. Methods: Air samples collected in the hospital room of two coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients, one ready for discharge and the other newly admitted, were subjected to RT-qPCR and virus culture. The genomes of the SARS-CoV-2 collected from the air and isolated in cell culture were sequenced. Results: Viable SARS-CoV-2 was isolated from air samples collected 2 to 4.8 m away from the patients. The genome sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 strain isolated from the material collected by the air samplers was identical to that isolated from the newly admitted patient. Estimates of viable viral concentrations ranged from 6 to 74 TCID50 units/L of air. Conclusions: Patients with respiratory manifestations of COVID-19 produce aerosols in the absence of aerosol-generating procedures that contain viable SARS-CoV-2, and these aerosols may serve as a source of transmission of the virus.

Published in International Journal of Infectious Diseases

ISSN: 1201-9712 (Print); 1878-3511 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Infectious and parasitic diseases
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/international-journal-of-infectious-diseases/

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