Detection of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Virus on the Surface of Hospital Settings by Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Ali  Ghanbariasad; Abdolmajid  Ghasemian; Yaser  Mansoori; Zahra  Montaseri; Navid  Alinejad; Mohammad  Doustan; Ramin  Hayati

doi:10.18502/jabs.v14i4.16691

Ali Ghanbariasad Department of Medical Biotechnology, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
Abdolmajid Ghasemian Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
Yaser Mansoori Department of Medical Genetic, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
Zahra Montaseri Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
Navid Alinejad Department of Public Health, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
Mohammad Doustan Student Research Committee, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
Ramin Hayati Department of Public Health, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jabs.v14i4.16691

Keywords: Coronavirus Disease 2019, Molecular diagnosis, Contamination, Hospital environment

Abstract

Background & Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a profound impact on human health, with over 704,753,890 confirmed cases and 7,010,681 deaths reported to date. This study aimed to evaluate the contamination rate of COVID-19 on high-risk surfaces at Valiasr Hospital in Fasa, Iran, using molecular testing.

Materials & Methods: A total of 142 surface swabs, immersed in viral transport medium (VTM), were collected and transported to the Virology Reference Laboratory at the Cohort Center of Fasa University of Medical Sciences for COVID-19 virus testing. The presence of the virus was assessed using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT- qPCR) technique (QIAquant 96 5plex), following the manufacturer’s protocol (Qiagen, MD, USA).

Results: Among the 142 samples obtained from surfaces and equipment in the COVID-19 ward, two samples tested positive for COVID-19. Similarly, two samples from the coronavirus isolation ward were found to be positive using RT-qPCR. The positive samples were collected from a patient’s bed and the interior bed of an insulated room. No COVID-19 contamination was detected on hospital surface samples outside these areas.

Conclusion: This study identified a low rate of COVID-19 contamination on hospital surfaces and equipment in Fasa city. The findings suggest that the hospital environment could serve as a potential source of COVID-19 transmission, particularly among healthcare providers, visitors, and patients.