Graduate School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, 4-1-26, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-8402, Japan.
Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan.
Sci Rep. 2022 Sep 2;12(1):14994. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-18945-8.
The risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection when people handle linens is uncertain. We examined the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on linens, in the air, and on personal protective equipment (PPE) to assess potential infection risk among individuals who handle linens used by SARS-CoV-2-infected people. Patients in a hospital and an accommodation facility who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 participated in this study in 2020. Linen samples before washing or disinfection, rinse water after washing or disinfection, air in the workplace at the hospital and an accommodation facility, and the PPE worn by linen-handling people were tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and viable viruses. Among 700 samples from 13 SARS-CoV-2-infected participants and their surrounding environment, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected from 14% (52/362) of the linens used by COVID-19 patients (cycle threshold [Ct] value: 33-40). SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected from 8% (2/26) of rinse water after washing or disinfection, from 15% (16/104) of air samples in the workspace, and from 10% (5/52) of gowns worn by linen-handling people, all with high Ct values (> 36). No SARS-CoV-2 was isolated from any samples. The potential risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection from handling linens used by SARS-CoV-2-infected people exists but appears to below.
人们在处理衣物时感染 SARS-CoV-2 的风险尚不确定。我们研究了 SARS-CoV-2 在衣物、空气中和个人防护装备（PPE）上的存在情况，以评估处理 SARS-CoV-2 感染者使用过的衣物的个体潜在感染风险。2020 年，在一家医院和一家住宿设施中检测出 SARS-CoV-2 阳性的患者参与了这项研究。在洗涤或消毒前的衣物样本、洗涤或消毒后的漂洗水、医院和住宿设施工作场所的空气以及处理衣物的人所穿的 PPE 都进行了 SARS-CoV-2 RNA 和活病毒检测。在来自 13 名 SARS-CoV-2 感染者及其周围环境的 700 个样本中，从 COVID-19 患者使用的 14%（52/362）的衣物中检测到 SARS-CoV-2 RNA（循环阈值 [Ct] 值：33-40）。在洗涤或消毒后的漂洗水中检测到 8%（2/26）的 SARS-CoV-2 RNA，在工作场所空气中检测到 15%（16/104）的 SARS-CoV-2 RNA，在处理衣物的人所穿的长袍中检测到 10%（5/52）的 SARS-CoV-2 RNA，所有这些样本的 Ct 值都较高（>36）。没有从任何样本中分离出 SARS-CoV-2。从处理 SARS-CoV-2 感染者使用过的衣物中感染 SARS-CoV-2 的潜在风险存在，但似乎较低。
