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Review
. 2021;19(3):1935-1944.
doi: 10.1007/s10311-021-01186-y. Epub 2021 Feb 11.

Current understanding of the surface contamination and contact transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare settings

Hosoon Choi  1 , Piyali Chatterjee  1 , John D Coppin  1 , Julie A Martel  1 , Munok Hwang  1 , Chetan Jinadatha  1 , Virender K Sharma  2
Affiliations
Review

Current understanding of the surface contamination and contact transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare settings

Hosoon Choi et al. Environ Chem Lett. 2021.

Abstract

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has rapidly spread across the world and was subsequently declared as a pandemic in 2020. To overcome this public health challenge, comprehensive understanding of the disease transmission is urgently needed. Recent evidences suggest that the most common route of transmission for SARS-CoV-2 is likely via droplet, aerosol, or direct contact in a person-to-person encounter, although the possibility of transmission via fomites from surfaces cannot be ruled out entirely. Environmental contamination in COVID-19 patient rooms is widely observed due to viral shedding from both asymptomatic and symptomatic patients, and SARS-CoV-2 can survive on hospital surfaces for extended periods. Sequence of contact events can spread the virus from one surface to the other in a hospital setting. Here, we review the studies related to viral shedding by COVID-19 patients that can contaminate surfaces and survival of SARS-CoV-2 on different types of surfaces commonly found in healthcare settings, as well as evaluating the importance of surface to person transmission characteristics. Based on recent evidences from the literature, decontamination of hospital surfaces should constitute an important part of the infection control and prevention of COVID-19.

Keywords: Aerosols; COVID-19; Decontamination; Droplet; Hospital surfaces; Viral shedding.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The modes of entry, contributing factors, and organs affected in SARS-CoV-2 infection
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Modes and duration of transmission in SARS-CoV-2 infection
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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