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. 2023 Nov 1:11:1202216.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1202216. eCollection 2023.

COVID-19 on the spectrum: a scoping review of hygienic standards

Chrysa Voidarou  1 , Georgios Rozos  2 , Elisavet Stavropoulou  3 , Elpida Giorgi  4 , Christos Stefanis  4 , Georgios Vakadaris  4 , Natalia Vaou  4 , Christina Tsigalou  5 , Yiannis Kourkoutas  6 , Eugenia Bezirtzoglou  4
Affiliations

COVID-19 on the spectrum: a scoping review of hygienic standards

Chrysa Voidarou et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

The emergence of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, rapidly escalated into a worldwide public health crisis. Despite numerous clinical treatment endeavors, initial defenses against the virus primarily relied on hygiene practices like mask-wearing, meticulous hand hygiene (using soap or antiseptic solutions), and maintaining social distancing. Even with the subsequent advent of vaccines and the commencement of mass vaccination campaigns, these hygiene measures persistently remain in effect, aiming to curb virus transmission until the achievement of herd immunity. In this scoping review, we delve into the effectiveness of these measures and the diverse transmission pathways, focusing on the intricate interplay within the food network. Furthermore, we explore the virus's pathophysiology, considering its survival on droplets of varying sizes, each endowed with distinct aerodynamic attributes that influence disease dispersion dynamics. While respiratory transmission remains the predominant route, the potential for oral-fecal transmission should not be disregarded, given the protracted presence of viral RNA in patients' feces after the infection period. Addressing concerns about food as a potential viral vector, uncertainties shroud the virus's survivability and potential to contaminate consumers indirectly. Hence, a meticulous and comprehensive hygienic strategy remains paramount in our collective efforts to combat this pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; air; droplets size; food; hand hygiene; orofecal transmission.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A timeline of the WHO's COVID-19 response and actions taken on a global scale.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Flowchart of the literature identified, screened and included in this review according to the PRISMA guidelines (Number of hits on PubMed on the August 30, 2021) (34, 35).
Figure 3
Figure 3
SARS-CoV-2 modes of direct and indirect transmission.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The trifecta of hand hygiene: health care facilities (not only hospitals, but also where individuals with mild symptoms are hosted), workplace (referring to asymptomatic carriers) and community (geographical and cultural locations of humans), such as schools or households.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Aerodynamics characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and “mechanical (level) control” of airborne infection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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