Huang Wenjie, Wang Kailu, Hung Chi-Tim, Chow Kai-Ming, Tsang Dominic, Lai Raymond Wai-Man, Xu Richard Huan, Yeoh Eng-Kiong, Ho Kin-Fai, Chen Chun
Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T. 999077, Hong Kong, China.
The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T. 999077, Hong Kong, China; Centre for Health Systems and Policy Research, JCSPHPC, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T. 999077, Hong Kong, China.
J Hazard Mater. 2022 Aug 15;436:129152. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129152. Epub 2022 May 14.
Although airborne transmission has been considered as a possible route for the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the role that aerosols play in SARS-CoV-2 transmission is still controversial. This study evaluated the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 isolation wards at Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong by both on-site sampling and numerical analysis. A total of 838 air samples and 1176 surface samples were collected, and SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected using the RT-PCR method. Testing revealed that 2.3% of the air samples and 9.3% of the surface samples were positive, indicating that the isolation wards were contaminated with the virus. The dispersion and deposition of exhaled particles in the wards were calculated by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The calculated accumulated number of particles collected at the air sampling points was closely correlated with the SARS-CoV-2 positive rates from the field sampling, which confirmed the possibility of airborne transmission. Furthermore, three potential intervention strategies, i.e., the use of curtains, ceiling-mounted air cleaners, and periodic ventilation, were numerically investigated to explore effective control measures in isolation wards. According to the results, the use of ceiling-mounted air cleaners is effective in reducing the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in such wards.
尽管空气传播被认为是严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）传播的一种可能途径，但气溶胶在SARS-CoV-2传播中所起的作用仍存在争议。本研究通过现场采样和数值分析，评估了香港威尔士亲王医院新冠肺炎隔离病房中SARS-CoV-2的空气传播情况。共采集了838份空气样本和1176份表面样本，并采用逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）方法检测SARS-CoV-2 RNA。检测发现，2.3%的空气样本和9.3%的表面样本呈阳性，表明隔离病房被病毒污染。通过计算流体动力学（CFD）模拟计算了病房中呼出颗粒的扩散和沉积情况。计算得出的空气采样点收集的颗粒累积数量与现场采样的SARS-CoV-2阳性率密切相关，这证实了空气传播的可能性。此外，还对三种潜在的干预策略，即使用窗帘、天花板安装的空气净化器和定期通风进行了数值研究，以探索隔离病房中的有效控制措施。根据结果，使用天花板安装的空气净化器可有效减少此类病房中SARS-CoV-2的空气传播。
