Surface sampling for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in workplace outbreak settings in the UK, 2021-22

Ian Nicholls, Antony Spencer, Yiqun Chen, Allan Bennett, Barry Atkinson*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aims: To utilize environmental surface sampling to evaluate areas of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) contamination within workplaces to identify trends and improve local coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) control measures. Methods and results: Surface sampling was undertaken at 12 workplaces that experienced a cluster of COVID-19 cases in the workforce between March 2021 and March 2022. A total of 7.4% (61/829) samples collected were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by the quantitative PCR (qPCR) with only 1.8% (15/829) of samples identified with crossing threshold (Ct) values < 35.0. No sample returned whole-genome sequence inferring RNA detected was degraded. Conclusions: Fe w w orkplace surf ace samples were positive for SAR S-CoV-2 RNA and positive samples typically cont ained low levels of nucleic acid. Although these data may infer a low probability of fomite transmission within the workplace, Ct values may have been lower at the time of contamination. Workplace environmental sampling identified lapses in COVID-19 control measures within individual sites and showed trends throughout the pandemic.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberlxad216
JournalJournal of Applied Microbiology
Volume134
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s).

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • cluster
  • environmental surface sampling
  • fomite
  • outbreak
  • transmission
  • workplace

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