Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore; Infectious Diseases Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore; Biosafety Level 3 Core Facility, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore; Department of Otolaryngology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore.
National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore; Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Int J Infect Dis. 2023 Jun;131:19-25. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.03.029. Epub 2023 Mar 21.
As the world transitions to COVID-19 endemicity, studies focusing on aerosol shedding of highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) are vital for the calibration of infection control measures against VOCs that are likely to circulate seasonally. This follow-up Gesundheit-II aerosol sampling study aims to compare the aerosol shedding patterns of Omicron VOC samples with pre-Omicron variants analyzed in our previous study.
Coarse and fine aerosol samples from 47 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 were collected during various respiratory activities (passive breathing, talking, and singing) and analyzed using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and virus culture.
Compared with patients infected with pre-Omicron variants, comparable SARS-CoV-2 RNA copy numbers were detectable in aerosol samples of patients infected with Omicron despite being fully vaccinated. Patients infected with Omicron also showed a slight increase in viral aerosol shedding during breathing activities and were more likely to have persistent aerosol shedding beyond 7 days after disease onset.
This follow-up study reaffirms the aerosol shedding properties of Omicron and should guide continued layering of public health interventions even in highly vaccinated populations.
随着世界向 COVID-19 地方性过渡，研究重点关注高传染性 SARS-CoV-2 变体（VOC）的气溶胶释放对于针对可能季节性传播的 VOC 校准感染控制措施至关重要。这项后续的 Gesundheit-II 气溶胶采样研究旨在比较奥密克戎 VOC 样本与我们之前研究中分析的前奥密克戎变体的气溶胶释放模式。
在各种呼吸活动（被动呼吸、说话和唱歌）期间，从 47 名感染 SARS-CoV-2 的患者中收集粗和细气溶胶样本，并使用逆转录定量聚合酶链反应和病毒培养进行分析。
与感染前奥密克戎变体的患者相比，尽管已完全接种疫苗，但仍可在感染奥密克戎的患者的气溶胶样本中检测到可比的 SARS-CoV-2 RNA 拷贝数。感染奥密克戎的患者在呼吸活动期间也表现出病毒气溶胶释放略有增加，并且在发病后 7 天以上持续气溶胶释放的可能性更高。
这项后续研究再次证实了奥密克戎的气溶胶释放特性，即使在高接种人群中，也应继续分层实施公共卫生干预措施。
