Airborne SARS-CoV-2 Detection by ddPCR in Adequately Ventilated Hospital Corridors
Indoors, the infection risk of diseases transmitted through the airborne route is estimated from indoor carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) levels. However, the approaches to assess this risk do not account for the airborne concentration of pathogens, among other limitations. In this study,...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| author | Joan Truyols-Vives Marta González-López Antoni Colom-Fernández Alexander Einschütz-López Ernest Sala-Llinàs Antonio Doménech-Sánchez Herme García-Baldoví Josep Mercader-Barceló |
| author_facet | Joan Truyols-Vives Marta González-López Antoni Colom-Fernández Alexander Einschütz-López Ernest Sala-Llinàs Antonio Doménech-Sánchez Herme García-Baldoví Josep Mercader-Barceló |
| author_sort | Joan Truyols-Vives |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Indoors, the infection risk of diseases transmitted through the airborne route is estimated from indoor carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) levels. However, the approaches to assess this risk do not account for the airborne concentration of pathogens, among other limitations. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between airborne SARS-CoV-2 levels and environmental parameters. Bioaerosols were sampled (<i>n</i> = 40) in hospital corridors of two wards differing in the COVID-19 severity of the admitted patients. SARS-CoV-2 levels were quantified using droplet digital PCR. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 60% of the total air samples. The ward where the mildly ill patients were admitted had a higher occupancy, transit of people in the corridor, and CO<sub>2</sub> levels, but there were no significant differences in SARS-CoV-2 detection between wards. The mean CO<sub>2</sub> concentration in the positive samples was 569 ± 35.6 ppm. Considering all samples, the CO<sub>2</sub> levels in the corridor were positively correlated with patient door openings but inversely correlated with SARS-CoV-2 levels. In conclusion, airborne SARS-CoV-2 can be detected indoors with optimal ventilation, and its levels do not scale with CO<sub>2</sub> concentration in hospital corridors. Therefore, CO<sub>2</sub> assessment should not be interpreted as a surrogate of airborne viral presence in all indoor spaces. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2305-6304 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxics |
| spelling | doaj-art-ada5242e3fb642278c68fff91f32637a2025-08-20T03:32:19ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042025-07-0113758310.3390/toxics13070583Airborne SARS-CoV-2 Detection by ddPCR in Adequately Ventilated Hospital CorridorsJoan Truyols-Vives0Marta González-López1Antoni Colom-Fernández2Alexander Einschütz-López3Ernest Sala-Llinàs4Antonio Doménech-Sánchez5Herme García-Baldoví6Josep Mercader-Barceló7Molecular Biology, Health Geography, and One Health Research Group (MolONE), University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, SpainMolecular Biology, Health Geography, and One Health Research Group (MolONE), University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, SpainMolecular Biology, Health Geography, and One Health Research Group (MolONE), University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, SpainInstitute of Biophysics, Department of Natural Sciences and Sustainable Resources, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, AustriaMolecular Biology, Health Geography, and One Health Research Group (MolONE), University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, SpainMolecular Biology, Health Geography, and One Health Research Group (MolONE), University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, SpainMolecular Biology, Health Geography, and One Health Research Group (MolONE), University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, SpainMolecular Biology, Health Geography, and One Health Research Group (MolONE), University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, SpainIndoors, the infection risk of diseases transmitted through the airborne route is estimated from indoor carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) levels. However, the approaches to assess this risk do not account for the airborne concentration of pathogens, among other limitations. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between airborne SARS-CoV-2 levels and environmental parameters. Bioaerosols were sampled (<i>n</i> = 40) in hospital corridors of two wards differing in the COVID-19 severity of the admitted patients. SARS-CoV-2 levels were quantified using droplet digital PCR. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 60% of the total air samples. The ward where the mildly ill patients were admitted had a higher occupancy, transit of people in the corridor, and CO<sub>2</sub> levels, but there were no significant differences in SARS-CoV-2 detection between wards. The mean CO<sub>2</sub> concentration in the positive samples was 569 ± 35.6 ppm. Considering all samples, the CO<sub>2</sub> levels in the corridor were positively correlated with patient door openings but inversely correlated with SARS-CoV-2 levels. In conclusion, airborne SARS-CoV-2 can be detected indoors with optimal ventilation, and its levels do not scale with CO<sub>2</sub> concentration in hospital corridors. Therefore, CO<sub>2</sub> assessment should not be interpreted as a surrogate of airborne viral presence in all indoor spaces.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/7/583SARS-CoV-2airborne transmissionddPCRbioaerosolcarbon dioxide |
| spellingShingle | Joan Truyols-Vives Marta González-López Antoni Colom-Fernández Alexander Einschütz-López Ernest Sala-Llinàs Antonio Doménech-Sánchez Herme García-Baldoví Josep Mercader-Barceló Airborne SARS-CoV-2 Detection by ddPCR in Adequately Ventilated Hospital Corridors Toxics SARS-CoV-2 airborne transmission ddPCR bioaerosol carbon dioxide |
| title | Airborne SARS-CoV-2 Detection by ddPCR in Adequately Ventilated Hospital Corridors |
| title_full | Airborne SARS-CoV-2 Detection by ddPCR in Adequately Ventilated Hospital Corridors |
| title_fullStr | Airborne SARS-CoV-2 Detection by ddPCR in Adequately Ventilated Hospital Corridors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Airborne SARS-CoV-2 Detection by ddPCR in Adequately Ventilated Hospital Corridors |
| title_short | Airborne SARS-CoV-2 Detection by ddPCR in Adequately Ventilated Hospital Corridors |
| title_sort | airborne sars cov 2 detection by ddpcr in adequately ventilated hospital corridors |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 airborne transmission ddPCR bioaerosol carbon dioxide |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/7/583 |
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