SARS-CoV-2 burden on the floor was associated with COVID-19 cases and outbreaks in two acute care hospitals: a prospective cohort study.
Michael FralickJason A MoggridgeMakenna WiebeLucas CastellaniAllison J McGeerBryan FeenstraAaron HinzAlexandra M A HicksBarbara A KatzenbackAlex WongTamara Van BakelSawith AbeygunawardenaTasha BurhunduliHebah S MejbelRees KassenNisha ThampiDerek MacFaddenCaroline NottPublished in: Infection control and hospital epidemiology (2024)
Viral burden of SARS-CoV-2 on floors, even in healthcare worker-only areas, was strongly associated with COVID-19 outbreaks in those hospital wards. Built environment sampling may support hospital COVID-19 outbreak identification, fill gaps in traditional surveillance, and guide infection prevention and control measures.