Revisiting SARS-CoV-2 environmental contamination by patients with COVID-19: The Omicron variant does not differ from previous strains.

Authors :: Glinert I
Ben-Shmuel A
Szwartcwort-Cohen M
Beth-Din A
Laskar O
Barlev-Gross M
Melamed S
Arbell N
Levy H
Horowitz NA
Weiss S
Source :: International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases [Int J Infect Dis] 2022 May; Vol. 118, pp. 211-213. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Mar 05.
Publication Year :: 2022
Abstract: SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain emergence raised concerns that its enhanced infectivity is partly due to altered spread/contamination modalities. We therefore sampled high-contact surfaces and air in close proximity to patients who were verified as infected with the Omicron strain, using identical protocols applied to sample patients positive to the original or Alpha strains. Cumulatively, for all 3 strains, viral RNA was detected in 90 of 168 surfaces and 6 of 49 air samples (mean cycle threshold [Ct]=35.2±2.5). No infective virus was identified. No significant differences in prevalence were found between strains.<br />Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None declared.<br /> (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Subjects :: Humans
RNA, Viral genetics
Specimen Handling
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2

Language :: English
ISSN :: 1878-3511
Volume :: 118
Database :: MEDLINE
Journal :: International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
Publication Type :: Academic Journal
Accession number :: 35257907
Full Text :: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2022.03.001

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