Genetic Load of SARS-CoV-2 in Aerosols Collected in Operating Theaters
Por:
Barberá-Riera M, Porru S, Barneo-Muñoz M, Villasante Ferrer A, Carrasco P, de Llanos R, Llueca A and Delgado-Saborit JM
Publicada:
11 oct 2022
Ahead of Print:
1 sep 2022
Resumen:
After the outbreak of COVID-19, additional protocols have been established to prevent the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 from the patient to the health personnel and vice versa in health care settings. However, in the case of emergency surgeries, it is not always possible to ensure that the patient is not infected with SARS-CoV-2, assuming a potential source of transmission of the virus to health personnel. This work aimed to evaluate the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 and quantify the viral load in indoor air samples collected inside operating rooms, where emergency and scheduled operations take place. Samples were collected for 3 weeks inside two operating rooms for 24 h at 38 L/min in quartz filters. RNA was extracted from the filters and analyzed using RT-qPCR targeting SARS-CoV-2 genes E, N1 and N2 regions. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 11.3% of aerosol samples collected in operating rooms, despite with low concentrations (not detected at 13.5 cg/m(3) and 10.5 cg/m(3) in the scheduled and emergency operating rooms, respectively). Potential sources of airborne SARS-CoV-2 could be aerosolization of the virus during aerosol-generating procedures and in open surgery from patients that might have been recently infected with the virus, despite presenting a negative COVID-19 test. Another source could be related to health care workers unknowingly infected with the virus and exhaling SARS-CoV-2 virions into the air. These results highlight the importance of reinforcing preventive measures against COVID-19 in operating rooms, such as the correct use of protective equipment, screening programs for health care workers, and information campaigns. IMPORTANCE Operating rooms are critical environments in which asepsis must be ensured. The COVID-19 pandemic entailed the implementation of additional preventative measures in health care settings, including operating theaters. Although one of the measures is to operate only COVID-19 free patients, this measure cannot be always implemented, especially in emergency interventions. Therefore, a surveillance campaign was conducted during 3 weeks in two operating rooms to assess the level of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material detected in operating theaters with the aim to assess the risk of COVID-19 transmission during operating procedures. SARS-CoV-2 genetic material was detected in 11% of aerosol samples collected in operating rooms, despite with low concentrations. Plausible SARS-CoV-2 sources have been discussed, including patients and health care personnel infected with the virus. These results highlight the importance of reinforcing preventive measures against COVID-19 in operating rooms, such as the correct use of protective equipment, screening programs for health care workers and information campaigns.
Operating rooms are critical environments in which asepsis must be ensured. The COVID-19 pandemic entailed the implementation of additional preventative measures in health care settings, including operating theaters.
Filiaciones:
Barberá-Riera M:
Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain
Porru S:
Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain
Barneo-Muñoz M:
Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain
Villasante Ferrer A:
Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain
:
Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain
Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
de Llanos R:
Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain
:
Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain
Multidisciplinary Unit of Abdominal Pelvic Oncology Surgery (MUAPOS), University General Hospital of Castellon, Castellón, Spain
:
Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain
Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
Environmental Research Group, MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
Green Published
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