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

151 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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