Detection of SARS-CoV-2 genome in the air, surfaces, and wastewater of the referral hospitals, Gorgan, north of Iran

Farzad  Ramezani Ziarani; Alireza Tahamtan; Hasan Safari; Alijan Tabarraei; Yousef Dadban Shahamat

doi:10.18502/ijm.v14i5.10954

Farzad Ramezani Ziarani Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
Alireza Tahamtan Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
Hasan Safari Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Environmental Health Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
Alijan Tabarraei Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
Yousef Dadban Shahamat Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Environmental Health Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v14i5.10954

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Hospital contamination; Air pollution; Environmental contamination; Wastewater

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic caused by the novel virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus2 (SARS-CoV-2). Knowing the virus's behavior and its persistence in different environ- ments are crucial and will lead to the proper management of thedisease. In this study, air, surface, and sewage samples were taken from different parts of referral hospitals for COVID-19.

Materials and Methods: Air samples were taken with impinger, surface samples with swabs, and sewage samples were taken from the hospital wastewatertreatment plant. After viral genome extraction, a real-time RT-PCR test was applied to confirm the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the collected samples.

Results: The virus genome could be traced in the wards and wastewater related to hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Overally, 29%, 16%, and 37.5% of air, surface, and sewage samples were positive for the SARS-CoV-2 genome, respectively.

Conclusion: Findings of such studiesprovide valuable results regarding the degree of contamination of hospital environ- ments and the risk of virus transmission in different environments and among hospital staff and patients.