Focus: Infection Control

Study says coronavirus may linger in the air in patient bathrooms, staff areas

Researchers also found the concentration of the virus' genetic material in isolation wards and ventilated patient rooms was very low


The new coronavirus may linger in patients toilet areas, medical staff areas and areas prone to crowding, according to an article on the Becker’s Hospital Review website.

A study, published in Nature, examined the presence of the new coronavirus' genetic material in fine airborne particles in different areas of two Wuhan hospitals during the COVID-19 outbreak in February and March.

Researchers found the concentration of the virus' genetic material  in isolation wards and ventilated patient rooms was very low. But it was high in the patients' toilet areas, as well as two public areas prone to crowding.

They also found that in some medical staff areas that initially that high concentrations of the virus had their levels decreased until the virus was undetectable after rigorous sanitization.

Read the article.

 



May 11, 2020


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