Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Safat, Kuwait.
Indoor Air. 2021 Nov;31(6):1815-1825. doi: 10.1111/ina.12871. Epub 2021 Jun 14.
The role of airborne particles in the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is well explored. The novel coronavirus can survive in aerosol for extended periods, and its interaction with other viral communities can cause additional virulence and infectivity. This baseline study reports concentrations of SARS-CoV-2, other respiratory viruses, and pathogenic bacteria in the indoor air from three major hospitals (Sheikh Jaber, Mubarak Al-Kabeer, and Al-Amiri) in Kuwait dealing with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. The indoor aerosol samples showed 12-99 copies of SARS-CoV-2 per m of air. Two non-SARS-coronavirus (strain HKU1 and NL63), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and human bocavirus, human rhinoviruses, Influenza B (FluB), and human enteroviruses were also detected in COVID-positive areas of Mubarak Al Kabeer hospital (MKH). Pathogenic bacteria such as Mycoplasma pneumonia, Streptococcus pneumonia and, Haemophilus influenza were also found in the hospital aerosols. Our results suggest that the existing interventions such as social distancing, use of masks, hand hygiene, surface sanitization, and avoidance of crowded indoor spaces are adequate to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in enclosed areas. However, increased ventilation can significantly reduce the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in indoor aerosols. The synergistic or inhibitory effects of other respiratory pathogens in the spread, severity, and complexity of SARS-CoV-2 need further investigation.
空气中的颗粒物在 2 型严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒(SARS-CoV-2)传播中的作用已得到充分研究。新型冠状病毒可以在气溶胶中存活很长时间,它与其他病毒群落的相互作用会导致额外的毒力和传染性。本基线研究报告了科威特三家处理 2019 冠状病毒病(COVID-19)患者的主要医院(谢赫·贾比尔、穆巴拉克·卡比尔和阿米尔)室内空气中 SARS-CoV-2、其他呼吸道病毒和致病菌的浓度。室内气溶胶样本显示空气中 SARS-CoV-2 的浓度为每立方米 12-99 拷贝。在穆巴拉克·卡比尔医院(MKH)的 COVID-19 阳性区域还检测到两种非 SARS 冠状病毒(株 HKU1 和 NL63)、呼吸道合胞病毒(RSV)和人博卡病毒、人鼻病毒、乙型流感(FluB)和人肠道病毒。在医院气溶胶中还发现了肺炎支原体、肺炎链球菌和流感嗜血杆菌等致病菌。我们的研究结果表明,现有的干预措施,如保持社交距离、使用口罩、保持手部卫生、表面消毒和避免拥挤的室内空间,足以防止 SARS-CoV-2 在封闭区域内传播。然而,增加通风可以显著降低室内气溶胶中 SARS-CoV-2 的浓度。其他呼吸道病原体在 SARS-CoV-2 的传播、严重程度和复杂性方面的协同或抑制作用需要进一步研究。