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Half of air samples taken from hospital hallways and a fifth from bathrooms show high levels of coronavirus, study finds
- Researchers looked at 24 studies from eight countries between January 1 and October 27 that looked at COVID-19 and air contamination
- Air samples from intensive care rooms were more than twice as likely to be positive for virus genetic material at 25.2% compared to 10.7% for non-ICU rooms
- More than a fifth, 23.8%, of samples taken from toilets and / or bathrooms were positive for viral RNA
- Samples from hallways were most likely to come back positive at 56.3%
Large amounts of the new coronavirus can be found in the air in several hospital settings, suggests a new study.
Researchers found that a quarter of all intensive care rooms with COVID-19 patients were contaminated with genetic material from the virus, known as SARS-CoV-2.
In addition, over 20 percent of samples from toilets and bathrooms as well as over half of samples from hallways returned positive.
The team, at the University of Nantes central hospital in France, said the high concentration of the virus, along with many people cramped in poorly ventilated rooms, could explain how health workers first-line workers end up contracting the virus despite wearing personal protective equipment.
Researchers looked at 24 studies from eight countries between January 1 and October 27 that looked at COVID-19 and air contamination. Pictured: Medical staff member Tanna Ingraham talks to a patient in the COVID-19 intensive care unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 21
A total of 23.8% of air samples taken from hospital toilets and bathrooms tested positive for viral genetic material, as did 56.3% of samples taken from hallways
For the analysis, published in JAMA Network Open, the team searched for articles covering COVID-19 and air contamination between January 1 and October 27.
A total of 24 studies were included in eight countries, including the US, UK, Italy, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Iran.
Air samples were taken from inpatient rooms inside and outside the ICUs; clinical areas, including nursing positions; staff areas such as locker rooms; public spaces such as hallways and main entrances; and toilets and / or bathrooms.
Of the 893 samples taken, 17.4% were positive for the viral RNA, or genetic material, of the coronavirus.
Air samples from intensive care rooms were more than twice as likely to be positive for the virus at 25.2% compared to 10.7% for non-ICU rooms.
Aside from intensive care rooms, the highest percentage of contaminated samples came from washrooms and hallways.
More than a fifth, 23.8 percent, of samples taken from toilets and / or bathrooms were positive for SARS-CoV-2.
Researchers say this is likely because the bathrooms are small and poorly ventilated in addition to the virus’s genetic material found in stool samples.
“Toilet flushing can result in aerosolization of RNA in small toilets or unventilated bathrooms,” they wrote.
In addition, 56.3% of the samples from the corridors came back positive with an overall positivity rate of 33.3% in public spaces.
Samples from the personnel sectors were approximately 12 percent positive.
A total of 19.2% of positive samples were found in meeting rooms and 3.9% in locker rooms.
“ The finding of elevated concentrations in staff rooms (i.e. meeting and dining rooms) is consistent with the possible cross-transmission of COVID-19 among [healthcare professionals] during breaks, ”the authors wrote.
“During these times, face masks are frequently removed in small areas without ventilation.
The team says it’s not clear whether the air contains viruses viable enough to infect people and hope to study this topic in future research.
“The high viral loads found in toilets and / or bathrooms, staff areas and public hallways argue for careful consideration of these areas for the prevention of transmission of COVID-19,” said wrote the authors.
“However, the presence of viable viruses should be primarily considered, as this is a necessary link for the potential for cross-transmission.”
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