SARS-CoV-2 Air & Surface Contamination - Considerations for Dentists

****Once this virus is in the air, it is widely dispersed. Combined with the virus’s ability to live outside the body for long periods of time, this leads to high transmissibility. Keeping the virus out of the air as much as possible is the best way to decrease transmission - use AeroShield Aerosol Eliminator with every patient to reduce levels of bioaerosols in the dental operatory. See more here.****

Detection of Air and Surface Contamination by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Hospital Rooms of Infected Patients

See full article at: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.29.20046557v2
Po Ying Chia, Kristen K Coleman, Yian Kim Tan, Sean Wei Xiang Ong, Marcus Gum, Sok Kiang Lau, Stephanie Sutjipto, Pei Hua Lee, Than The Son, Barnaby E. Young, Donald K. Milton, Gregory C. Gray, Stephan Schuster, Timothy Barkham, Partha Prathim De, Shawn Vasoo, Monica Chan, Brenda Sze Peng Ang, Boon Huan Tan, Yee Sin Leo, Oon-Tek Ng, Michelle Su Yen Wong, Kalisvar Marimuthu
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.29.20046557
This article is a preprint and has not been peer-reviewed [what does this mean?]. It reports new medical research that has yet to be evaluated and so should not be used to guide clinical practice.

Abstract

Understanding the particle size distribution in the air and patterns of environmental contamination of SARS-CoV-2 is essential for infection prevention policies. We aimed to detect SARS-CoV-2 surface and air contamination and study associated patient-level factors. 245 surface samples were collected from 30 airborne infection isolation rooms of COVID-19 patients, and air sampling was conducted in 3 rooms. Air sampling detected SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive particles of sizes >4 μm and 1-4 μm in two rooms, which warrants further study of the airborne transmission potential of SARS-CoV-2. 56.7% of rooms had at least one environmental surface contaminated. High touch surface contamination was shown in ten (66.7%) out of 15 patients in the first week of illness, and three (20%) beyond the first week of illness (p = 0.01).

 

****Once this virus is in the air, it is widely dispersed. Combined with the virus’s ability to live outside the body for long periods of time, leads to high transmissibility. Keeping the virus out of the air as much as possible is the best way to decrease transmission - use AeroShield with every patient.****