Report profiles aerosol spread in hospital COVID-19 outbreak
SARS-CoV-2 RNA in air samples collected at a nurses station at a Boston hospital were identified in all particle sizes and were genetically identical to human samples from a healthcare-associated outbreak, according to a new study in JAMA Network Open.Air sampling during hospital outbreakFor the study, researchers at Harvard, the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System (VABHS), Boston University, and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston collected air samples to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA at a VABHS hospital and long-term care center from Nov 16, 2020, to Mar 11, 2021.They used a microenvironmental cascade impactor that collects airborne particles in three size ranges: larger than 10.0 micrometer (μm,) 2.5 to 10.0 μm, and smaller than 2.5 μm.
They collected samples about every week, with a break from Dec 10, 2020, to Jan 4, 2021The team also conducted an investigation into a COVID-19 outbreak that eventually involved 103 patients and healthcare personnel (HCP) from Dec 27, 2020, to Jan 8, 2021.
It began on a medical ward not dedicated to COVID-19 patients shortly after vaccines had become available to HCP but not patients.
It preceded both the Delta and Omicron variants, which are known to spread faster.The outbreak began on "ward A" when a nurse developed COVID symptoms 4 days after receiving the first dose of Moderna vaccine, then tested positive.
United States
|
Cases: 46 252 513
Deaths: 750 423
Recovered: 0
|
India
|
Cases: 34 321 025
Deaths: 459 652
Recovered: 0
|
Brazil
|
Cases: 21 835 785
Deaths: 608 235
Recovered: 0
|
United Kingdom
|
Cases: 9 215 683
Deaths: 141 607
Recovered: 0
|
Russia
|
Cases: 8 494 589
Deaths: 237 619
Recovered: 0
|