Longitudinal Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on High-Touch Surfaces in a Community Setting

Abigail P. Harvey; Erica R. Fuhrmeister; Molly E. Cantrell; Ana Pitol Garcia; Jenna M. Swarthout; Julie E. Powers; Maya L. Nadimpalli; Timothy R. Julian; Amy J. Pickering

doi:10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00875

Longitudinal Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on High-Touch Surfaces in a Community Setting

Abigail P. Harvey, Erica R. Fuhrmeister, Molly E. Cantrell, Ana Pitol Garcia, Jenna M. Swarthout, Julie E. Powers, Maya L. Nadimpalli, Timothy R. Julian, Amy J. Pickering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

147 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Environmental surveillance of surface contamination is an unexplored tool for understanding transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in community settings. We conducted longitudinal swab sampling of high-touch non-porous surfaces in a Massachusetts town during a COVID-19 outbreak from April to June 2020. Twenty-nine of 348 (8.3%) surface samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, including crosswalk buttons, trash can handles, and door handles of essential business entrances (grocery store, liquor store, bank, and gas station). The estimated risk of infection from touching a contaminated surface was low (less than 5 in 10,000) by quantitative microbial risk assessment, suggesting fomites play a minimal role in SARS-CoV-2 community transmission. The weekly percentage of positive samples (out of n = 33 unique surfaces per week) best predicted variation in city-level COVID-19 cases with a 7-day lead time. Environmental surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on high-touch surfaces may be a useful tool to provide early warning of COVID-19 case trends.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	168-175
Number of pages	8
Journal	Environmental Science and Technology Letters
Volume	8
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00875
Publication status	Published - 9 Feb 2021
Externally published	Yes

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title = "Longitudinal Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on High-Touch Surfaces in a Community Setting",

abstract = "Environmental surveillance of surface contamination is an unexplored tool for understanding transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in community settings. We conducted longitudinal swab sampling of high-touch non-porous surfaces in a Massachusetts town during a COVID-19 outbreak from April to June 2020. Twenty-nine of 348 (8.3\%) surface samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, including crosswalk buttons, trash can handles, and door handles of essential business entrances (grocery store, liquor store, bank, and gas station). The estimated risk of infection from touching a contaminated surface was low (less than 5 in 10,000) by quantitative microbial risk assessment, suggesting fomites play a minimal role in SARS-CoV-2 community transmission. The weekly percentage of positive samples (out of n = 33 unique surfaces per week) best predicted variation in city-level COVID-19 cases with a 7-day lead time. Environmental surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on high-touch surfaces may be a useful tool to provide early warning of COVID-19 case trends.",

author = "Harvey, \{Abigail P.\} and Fuhrmeister, \{Erica R.\} and Cantrell, \{Molly E.\} and \{Pitol Garcia\}, Ana and Swarthout, \{Jenna M.\} and Powers, \{Julie E.\} and Nadimpalli, \{Maya L.\} and Julian, \{Timothy R.\} and Pickering, \{Amy J.\}",

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AU - Harvey, Abigail P.

AU - Fuhrmeister, Erica R.

AU - Cantrell, Molly E.

AU - Pitol Garcia, Ana

AU - Swarthout, Jenna M.

AU - Powers, Julie E.

AU - Nadimpalli, Maya L.

AU - Julian, Timothy R.

AU - Pickering, Amy J.

PY - 2021/2/9

Y1 - 2021/2/9

N2 - Environmental surveillance of surface contamination is an unexplored tool for understanding transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in community settings. We conducted longitudinal swab sampling of high-touch non-porous surfaces in a Massachusetts town during a COVID-19 outbreak from April to June 2020. Twenty-nine of 348 (8.3%) surface samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, including crosswalk buttons, trash can handles, and door handles of essential business entrances (grocery store, liquor store, bank, and gas station). The estimated risk of infection from touching a contaminated surface was low (less than 5 in 10,000) by quantitative microbial risk assessment, suggesting fomites play a minimal role in SARS-CoV-2 community transmission. The weekly percentage of positive samples (out of n = 33 unique surfaces per week) best predicted variation in city-level COVID-19 cases with a 7-day lead time. Environmental surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on high-touch surfaces may be a useful tool to provide early warning of COVID-19 case trends.

AB - Environmental surveillance of surface contamination is an unexplored tool for understanding transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in community settings. We conducted longitudinal swab sampling of high-touch non-porous surfaces in a Massachusetts town during a COVID-19 outbreak from April to June 2020. Twenty-nine of 348 (8.3%) surface samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, including crosswalk buttons, trash can handles, and door handles of essential business entrances (grocery store, liquor store, bank, and gas station). The estimated risk of infection from touching a contaminated surface was low (less than 5 in 10,000) by quantitative microbial risk assessment, suggesting fomites play a minimal role in SARS-CoV-2 community transmission. The weekly percentage of positive samples (out of n = 33 unique surfaces per week) best predicted variation in city-level COVID-19 cases with a 7-day lead time. Environmental surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on high-touch surfaces may be a useful tool to provide early warning of COVID-19 case trends.

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DO - 10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00875

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EP - 175

JO - Environmental Science and Technology Letters

JF - Environmental Science and Technology Letters

IS - 2

ER -

Longitudinal Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on High-Touch Surfaces in a Community Setting

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