Investigating transmission of SARS-CoV-2 using novel face mask sampling: a protocol for an observational prospective study of index cases and their contacts in a congregate setting
Daniel Olson,
Stephanie James,
Thomas Jaenisch,
Stephen Berman,
Molly M Lamb,
Emily N Gallichotte,
Brian Adams,
Charles Henry,
Jeannine Riess,
Joni Triantis van Sickle,
Kellie L Hawkins,
Brian T Montague,
Cody Coburn,
Leisha Conners Bauer,
Jennifer Kovarik,
Mark T Hernandez,
Amy Bronson,
Lucy Graham,
Stephanie Hanenberg,
James Kovacs,
John S Spencer,
Mark Zabel,
Philip D Fox,
Olivia Pluss,
William Windsor,
Geoffrey Winstanley,
Michael Barer,
Gregory Ebel,
May Chu
Affiliations
Daniel Olson
Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Stephanie James
Department of Anesthesiology, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California, USA
Thomas Jaenisch
Department of Infectious Diseases, Section Clinical Tropical Medicine, UniversitatsKlinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Stephen Berman
Center for Global Health (CGH), Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
Molly M Lamb
1 Center for Global Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
Emily N Gallichotte
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Brian Adams
Center for Global Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
Charles Henry
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Jeannine Riess
Office of Environmental Health Services, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Joni Triantis van Sickle
Office of Environmental Health Services, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Kellie L Hawkins
Public Health Institute, Denver Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
Brian T Montague
Occupational Health and Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA
Cody Coburn
Occupational Health and Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA
Leisha Conners Bauer
Health Promotion and Collegiate Recovery Center, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
Jennifer Kovarik
Health Promotion and Collegiate Recovery Center, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
Mark T Hernandez
Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
Amy Bronson
Office of the Vice President, Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
Lucy Graham
Department of Health Sciences, Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
Stephanie Hanenberg
Wellness Center, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
James Kovacs
Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
John S Spencer
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Mark Zabel
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Philip D Fox
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Olivia Pluss
Center for Global Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
William Windsor
Center for Global Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
Geoffrey Winstanley
Center for Global Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
Michael Barer
Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Leicester, Leicester, Leicestershire, UK
Gregory Ebel
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
May Chu
Center for Global Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
Introduction This study aims to measure how transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurs in communities and to identify conditions that lend to increased transmission focusing on congregate situations. We will measure SARS-CoV-2 in exhaled breath of asymptomatic and symptomatic persons using face mask sampling—a non-invasive method for SARS-CoV-2 detection in exhaled air. We aim to detect transmission clusters and identify risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in presymptomatic, asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals.Methods and analysis In this observational prospective study with daily follow-up, index cases and their respective contacts are identified at each participating institution. Contact definitions are based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health department guidelines. Participants will wear masks with polyvinyl alcohol test strips adhered to the inside for 2 hours daily. The strips are applied to all masks used over at least 7 days. In addition, self-administered nasal swabs and (optional) finger prick blood samples are performed by participants. Samples are tested by standard PCR protocols and by novel antigen tests.Ethics and dissemination This study was approved by the Colorado Multiple Institutional Review Board and the WHO Ethics Review Committee. From the data generated, we will analyse transmission clusters and risk factors for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in congregate settings. The kinetics of asymptomatic transmission and the evaluation of non-invasive tools for detection of transmissibility are of crucial importance for the development of more targeted control interventions—and ultimately to assist with keeping congregate settings open that are essential for our social fabric.Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov (#NCT05145803).
