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SARS-CoV-2 in hospital indoor environments is predominantly non-infectious.
- Source :
-
Virology Journal . 11/1/2021, Vol. 18 Issue 1, p1-9. 9p. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Background: The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has spread rapidly worldwide and disease prevention is more important than ever. In the absence of a vaccine, knowledge of the transmission routes and risk areas of infection remain the most important existing tools to prevent further spread. Methods: Here we investigated the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the hospital environment at the Uppsala University Hospital Infectious Disease ward by RT-qPCR and determined the infectivity of the detected virus in vitro on Vero E6 cells. Results: SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in several areas, although attempts to infect Vero E6 cells with positive samples were unsuccessful. However, RNase A treatment of positive samples prior to RNA extraction did not degrade viral RNA, indicating the presence of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsids or complete virus particles protecting the RNA as opposed to free viral RNA. Conclusion: Our results show that even in places where a moderate concentration (Ct values between 30 and 38) of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was found; no infectious virus could be detected. This suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the hospital environment subsides in two states; as infectious and as non-infectious. Future work should investigate the reasons for the non-infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 virions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1743422X
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Virology Journal
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 153338880
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-021-01556-6