Aerosol Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus: a Dilemma

The Corona Virus Disease 2019 is rapidly spreading throughout the world. Aerosol is a potential transmission route.

The transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus in humans is thought to be via at least 3 sources: 1) inhalation of liquid droplets produced by and/or 2) close contact with infected persons and 3) contact with surfaces contaminated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. There are many respiratory diseases spread by the airborne route such as tuberculosis, measles and chickenpox. Several studies suggested that airborne spread may have played an important role in the transmission of that disease. At present, there is little information on the characteristics of airborne severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus containing aerosols, their concentration, or their infectivity.

The aim was to determine airborne severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 transmission, their infectivity in in different areas such as patient's room and in medical staff area.

Methods

Cross sectional study of samples from environmental of patient´s room, and medical staff area. Samples will be taken of air using microbial air monitoring systems, and from different surfaces of patient's room and medical staff area, such as computers, mouse and personal protective equipment using cotton swabs. Viral RNA will be determined using Real-Time-Polymerase-Chain Reaction. In positive samples infectiveness will be determined by cell culture under biosecurity conditions.