Abstract
The healthcare environment serves as one of the possible routes of transmission of epidemiologically important pathogens, but the role of the contaminated environment on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission remains unclear. We reviewed survival, contamination, and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via environmental surfaces and shared medical devices as well as environmental disinfection of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare settings. Coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, have been demonstrated to survive for hours to days on environmental surfaces depending on experimental conditions. The healthcare environment is frequently contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 RNA in most studies but without evidence of viable virus. Although direct exposure to respiratory droplets is the main transmission route of SARS-CoV-2, the contaminated healthcare environment can potentially result in transmission of SARS-CoV-2 as described with other coronaviruses such as SARS and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronaviruses. It is important to improve thoroughness of cleaning/disinfection practices in healthcare facilities and select effective disinfectants to decontaminate inanimate surfaces and shared patient care items.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2052-2061 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Clinical Infectious Diseases |
Volume | 72 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2021 Jun 1 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- COVID-19
- SARS-CoV-2
- control measures
- healthcare environment
- transmission
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Microbiology (medical)
- Infectious Diseases